Smuggled food products destroyed

Personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) at the Port of Clark disposed of various confiscated frozen goods which were found inside a warehouse without the proper documents in Angeles City, Pampanga, the BoC announced yesterday.

Around 1,226 cartons containing Peking duck; several boxes of meat products such as chicken feet, hotdogs and nuggets; fish and seafood products including “espada,” baby lobster, crab sticks and octopus tentacles; and various Chinese condiments were condemned and destroyed by the bureau.

Operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service discovered the items in a warehouse in Barangay Anunas last 11 June, wherein no proofs of payment of duties and taxes covering the goods were presented during inspection.

The goods were later seized and forfeited pursuant to Sections 224 and 1113 f & l (5) of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order 01, Series of 2014.

The condemnation activity was attended by the National Meat Inspection Service Director Orlando Ongsolo, Angeles City Veterinaries Office Head Dr. Allan Gamueda and several representatives from the Bureau of Animal Industry and Customs Intelligence and Enforcement Units.

Port of Clark District Collector Ruby Alameda said the condemnation aims to send a strong message to smugglers to stop their illegal business practices and shortchanging the government of rightful revenues.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin and other members of the local government unit also visited the warehouse and ordered its closure for violation of Tax Ordinance 52 series of 1999.