Customs tightens drive vs agricultural smuggling

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is doubling down on its campaign against smugglers of agricultural products amid the growing scrutiny over the illegal entry of Chinese produce.

The bureau has seized P2 billion in agricultural imports in 542 raids since 2019.

“Intensified intelligence and enforcement operations and consistent examination and inspection of containers in various ports of entry nationwide are also in place,” the Customs said.

Customs continues to profile suspected smugglers as a preventive action against their potential activities.

Similarly, the agency tasked to man the ports revokes the licenses of traders, including their brokers, found engaged in the smuggling of farm goods.

According to the BOC, criminal charges were also lodged before the Department of Justice against importers and brokers who breached import laws.

It has filed at least 103 lawsuits on individuals who were uncovered to be involved in agricultural smuggling.

Customs executed administrative investigations against executives and personnel who were reported to be involved in illegal activities.

Likewise, it has negotiated with the Department of Agriculture (DA) a new set of rules geared toward not only eliminating the smuggling of farm commodities, but also making sure that agricultural imports comply with standards.

The agency has also given the DA access to its X-ray areas in ports in an effort to promote transparency and strengthen inspection.

Customs added that it agreed to exchange data with the DA to validate agricultural shipments which are suspected to be smuggled. Under this partnership, the DA can clear the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance, among others, of incoming shipments.

The bureau and the agriculture department has also approved of their anti-smuggling coordination wherein derogatory information and intelligence data can be shared for necessary actions to be taken.

Both agencies instituted a technical working group to review and update import regulations under which agricultural products are covered.

Last Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said he has yet to identify DA officials who are involved in the smuggling of farm produce.

Dar wants to unmask erring officials within his agency to hold them accountable for the suffering of vegetable farmers in Benguet losing income due to the influx of smuggled carrots.