SUBIC FREEPORT – Misdeclared refined sugar valued at P28.7 million has been seized by agents of the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Subic.
On April 10, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio led the inspection of the contraband declared as “Sweet Mixed Powder” shipped in 14 20-foot container vans from Vietnam.
It was flagged earlier by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) – Port of Subic for possible misdeclaration and regulatory non-compliance.
Laboratory analysis conducted after a physical inspection, in collaboration with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), determined that the sucrose content of the samples exceeded 65%, thereby reclassifying the shipment as refined sugar contrary to their declared description, the BOC said.
The findings constituted violations of SRA Sugar Order No. 7, S. 2003–2004; SRA and BOC Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2002; and Sections 1400 and 1113 (f)(k) 1, 4, and 5 of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and Sec. 7 (a) and (e) of RA 12022 (Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act).
District collector Marlon Fritz Broto is reported to have issued a warrant of seizure and detention on March 28. The shipments are presently undergoing forfeiture proceedings.
“Through stringent inspections and decisive enforcement actions, the Port of Subic continues to fulfill its duty to secure our borders and maintain the integrity of lawful trade. We thank the SRA for its steadfast support in this operation,” said Broto.
For his part, Rubio emphasized that the operation supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure food security, uphold trade integrity, and combat agricultural smuggling.
“This seizure demonstrates our firm resolve to prevent the entry of misdeclared and unregulated goods. We remain aligned with the President’s call to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and safeguard the nation’s agricultural interests through strengthened inter-agency cooperation,” he said. BOC-Subic
