MANILA: Two more rice traders were slapped with smuggling charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, stemming from the alleged illegal importation of over 4.2-million kilograms or over 4,200 metric tons of rice, valued at P72.4-million, from Thailand through the Manila International Container Port.
The complaint filed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is against Malingas Multi-Purpose Cooperative and RMJR Grains Center Corporation.
Customs Commissioner Bert Lina said respondents misdeclared the quantity and weight of the shipment, which arrived in five shipments between November 3 and November 28, 2013.
Under National Food Authority (NFA) Memorandum Circular No. AO-2K13-03-003, the total maximum allowable import volume is only 3,562 metric tons. Respondents’ shipments registered an excess of 644 metric tons or 644,000 kilos of rice.
