Cebu Customs to auction smuggled rice, other items

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs at the Port of Cebu is set to auction smuggled rice that were apprehended way back 2013, which are contained in at least 300 container vans.

BOC-Cebu District Collector Arnulfo Marcos said inventory of the container vans, as well as other container vans loaded with other smuggled goods, is still underway.

“This is one way of decongesting the Cebu International Port,” Marcos said.

The BOC, he said, has yet to ascertain the condition of the rice.

Meanwhile, the smuggled goods that will be part of the auction were reportedly abandoned by their consignees.

To recall, BOC has filed strings of cases against several consignees of smuggled rice.

The rice shipments came from Thailand, Vietnam, China and Singapore and entered the Cebu Port between July to November 2013.

The said rice shipment was confiscated by BOC as consignees were importing rice without the required import permit from the National Food Authority.

The NFA regulates rice imports through Minimum Access Volumes or quotas that limit the quantity imported to prevent excessive supply and viability of the local rice industry.

 Philippine laws state that only the NFA can import rice and that companies wishing to do the same must secure a permit from the agency.  (FREEMAN)