Bureau of Customs seizes P42 million worth of rice in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Philippine authorities raided a warehouse and seized some 42,180 sacks of rice worth P42 million in the southern port city of Zamboanga.

Members of the Bureau of Customs, backed by armed soldiers, swooped down on the warehouse in the village of San Jose Gusu and confiscated the rice, which was initially suspected as smuggled. 

Photos released by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga show the seized 42,180 sacks of rice worth P42 million in Zamboanga City.

The Bureau of Customs, in a statement released on Friday, said it forfeited the rice, adding as early in May, it received information that the rice were smuggled. "On May 19, 2023, the BOC, assisted by Coast Guard Intelligence Group-Southwestern Mindanao, Task Force Aduana, and Marine Battalion Landing Team 11, and armed with a Letter of Authority signed by Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, conducted an inspection of a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Gusu after receiving information that there were smuggled rice in one of the stalls therein. Inventory of the subject warehouse revealed 42,180 sacks of Alas Jasmine Fragrant Rice," the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga said.

Although it said the owner’s representative - whose name was not made public - submitted import documents purportedly covering the imported sacks of rice pursuant to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, but upon verification of documents it was found out that the confiscated rice were not covered by requisite Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry. 

The Bureau of Customs said there were discrepancies in the actual seized goods from what was declared in the documents presented by the owner's representatives. "The proof of payment submitted referred to a shipment of “White Rice 15% Broken”, while based on the actual examination, the seized sacks of rice were Jasmine Fragrant Rice," it said.

Then on September 1, the Bureau of Customs issued an Order of Forfeiture of the rice for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the Rice Tariffication Law, and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

District Collector Arthur Sevilla Jr. said they will continue to monitor and act on reports regarding smuggling in all forms. "This is pursuant to Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio’s and President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ marching order to go after hoarders and illegal importers of rice. The forfeited goods shall be disposed of in a manner provided for by law," he said. 

The Mindanao Examiner phoned the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga to verify whether the seizure of the rice was September 15 - when the press statement was released - or September 1 - the day it served the seizure order. A female staff member said an appointment is needed to interview Sevilla, adding no officials were available after 5 p.m.

Despite the anti-smuggling campaign, unscrupulous businessmen continue their illegal trade resulting in losses of billions of pesos in revenues. Many of the contraband - from rice to onions to petroleum products from Malaysia - find their ways to different buyers in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)