TINATAYANG P85 milyong halaga ng illegally imported pork at poultry products ang naharang ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) sa Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Ayon kay Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro, ang consignee at broker nito ay mahaharap sa smuggling cases at iba pang kaukulang mga kaso para sa limang misdeclared shipments na dumating noong June 15.
Sinaksihan ng mga ahente ng Customs ang 100 percent examination ng limang 40-foot containers noong Lunes sa MICP at natuklasan ang naturang mga produkto.
“The shipments underwent 100 percent examination and were found to contain frozen chicken thigh, frozen chicken breast, frozen chicken skinless breast, frozen chicken peeled breast, and frozen pork rectum with an estimated value of PHP85 million,” ayon kay Ramiro.
Sinabi ni CIIS director Jeoffrey Tacio na nakatanggap sila ng impormasyon na ang shipments, idineklarang naglalaman ng hotpot balls at steamed buns, ay nagtataglay ng frozen meat products mula sa China.
“Upon receiving information and validation since previous shipments were already seized with the said violation, a request was immediately requested to MICP district collector for issuance of Alert Order or 100 percent physical examination,” dagdag pa niya.
Ayon kay MICP District Collector Romeo Allan Rosales, agad silang magpapalabas ng Warrant of Seizure and Detention sa shipments.
Kabilang sa mga posibleng kaso na kanilang kakaharapin ay paglabag sa Sections 117 (regulated importation and exportation) at 1400 (misdeclaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) ng Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
– PNA