P54-M ‘misdeclared’ sugar seized – report

MANILA -- Customs officials on Tuesday seized PHP54 million worth of misdeclared sugar contained in 48 containers at the Port of Manila (POM)

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs-POM said the apprehended shipments were misdeclared as steel, tox screw, clamp, nails, and hardware fittings but actually contained Korachconditioned refined sugar.

The seized shipments were consigned to RZTREC and TRACLEF Trading and arrived from China on different dates in August and September 2019.

The items were subject of alerts on November 8, 13 and 14 and the examination started on November 13.

The BOC said after the physical examination of the containers, Warrants of Seizure and Detention were issued for violation of Section 1400 in relation to Section 117 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Republic Act 10845 otherwise known as Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

Meanwhile, the POM, for the year 2019 has seized a total of PHP314.506 million worth of misdeclared goods -17.28 percent higher than the PHP268.161 million worth of apprehensions last year.

In a related development, the Sugar Master Plan Foundation, Inc. awarded the POM a certificate of appreciation on Dec. 11 for the apprehension of smuggled sugar. (PNA)