MANILA: At least 22 container vans of illegally imported rice is set to be auctioned off on September 30, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Saturday, September 19.
According to Manila International Container Port (MIC)’s Auction and Cargo Disposal Division Chief Gerardo Macatangay, a bulk of the glutinous and white rice was consigned to International Grains International Trading, Inc. with 8,040 sacks and Evergreen Cereal with 3,800 sacks.
In 2014, Intercontinental Grains – together with Starcraft International Trading and Silent Royalty Marketing – was charged by BOC for importing rice without a permit from the National Food Authority (NFA).
The BOC is expected to generate P9.52 million ($1.9 million)* from the rice auction. Macatangay added that the MICP is also selling other smuggled items contained in 9 lots. These items include rolls of craft paper, ladies’ apparel, various food stuff, and 1,600 bags of dextrose monohydrate, among others.
The sale of various imported items from 779 containers has reached P319.76 million ($6.8 million) as of August 28. MICP generated the highest income from public auction of confiscated smuggled goods in 2014 with P580 million ($12.4 million) – more than the port’s target of P130 million ($2.7 million).
