Smuggled onions seized

Sacks of onions worth an estimated 112 million misdeclared as apples were discovered by Bureau of Customs personnel inside six shipping container vans at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) during an inspection Thursday.

The onions were concealed behind two layers of boxes with apples inside the six 40-foot vans, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said.

Documents showed that the shipment arrived from China and were declared as fresh apples.

It arrived at the MICP on August 14. It was consigned to ASD Total Packages Enterprises Inc.

According to Lapeña, the Xray Inspection Project received a tip against the shipment.

The owner of ASD Total Packages Enterprises Inc. and the Customs broker, Michael Miranda Sumile who processed the shipment, 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.

They will also face charges for violating Republic Act No. 10845 (An Act Declaring Largescale Agricultural Smuggling As Economic Sabotage, Prescribing Penalties Therefor And For Other Purposes) also known as Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

The onions, on the other hand, will be seized following the issuance of corresponding warrant of seizure and detention from MICP District Collector Balmyrson Valdez.

The shipment will go through legal process and will eventually be destroyed.

The accreditation of the consignee and the Customs broker involved will be revoked, Lapeña said.