The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P16 million worth of red onions smuggled into Manila International Container Port (MICP) from China.
Acting on the directive of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to issue alert orders on all incoming shipments of consignees with smuggling records, BOC intercepted at MICP another shipment of ASD Total Package Enterprises, Inc. suspected to contain misdeclared agricultural products.
The eight suspicious containers arrived at MICP on August 14, declared to contain 20,000 cartons of fresh apples. Following an alert order issued by the MICP Office of the District Collector, a physical inspection was conducted that revealed bags of red onions—covered by boxes of apples—placed inside the containers.
Lapeña, in a statement, said ASD Total Package, as with its previous modus, misdeclared the onions to evade paying the correct duties and taxes. Apples have zero tariff while onions are imposed 35% tariff. Last month, BOC also intercepted at MICP six containers carrying misdeclared onions worth an estimated P12 million, also consigned to ASD Total Package.
ASD Total Package will face criminal charges for violating Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
ASD Total Package’s owner and the signing customs broker, Michael Miranda Sumile, will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
Meanwhile, in relation to Lapeña’s previous directive to examine overstaying and abandoned cargoes for any contraband or prohibited goods, MICP authorities uncovered one abandoned 40-foot shipment containing 675 master cases of Chinese cigarettes.
The shipment consigned to Pan Subic Brother Manufacturing arrived at the port on June 13, 2017 from China.
