Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero (middle), Subic District Collector Maritess Martin (right) and a customs official present to the media a container full of smuggled Thailand refined sugar at the New Container Terminal 1 in Subic Bay Freeport on Friday. (Jonas Reyes / MANILA BULLETIN)
Due to derogatory information, a total of 34 containers of sugar and one container of fireworks shipped from Hong Kong were uncovered by the Bureau of Customs, District Collector Maritess Martin said Friday.
The shipments arrived into the country on March 31 and April 7 and were consigned to JRFP International Trading.
According to Martin, an alert was raised on the suspicious shipments which were later on opened for a 100-percent physical examination to verify if there are illegal drugs inside the container.
However, the containers were negative of illegal drugs. Instead, the shipment contained a total of 21,760 bags of Thailand refined sugar and several boxes of firecrackers.
Investigation then showed that the containers were misdeclared as floor mats and plastic floor coverings. Warrant of Seizure and Detention was already issued against the shipments.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, on the other hand, said that the revocation of the customs accreditation of both the importer and the customs broker has been ordered.
Appropriate charges will be filed against them for violation of Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, he added.
“We will not allow illicit traders to continue to violate our laws. The Bureau of Customs is consistently working on boosting our anti-smuggling measures through the acquisition of upgraded tools for inspection and examination and close coordination with our partner-agencies such as the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to beef up our fight against smuggling,” Guerrero stressed during the presentation of the seized goods in Subic Friday.
