P1-M smuggled onions seized

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized nearly P1 million worth of onions at the Manila International Container Port yesterday afternoon.

Three 40-foot shipping containers of onions, reportedly smuggled from China, arrived at the port Feb. 18. They were allegedly shipped by a Jangsu Shungan Trading and consigned to GAC Santos Agricultural Products Enterprise.

The shipment was misdeclared as gift items and kitchenware, the BOC said, adding that examiners became suspicious because the declared items did not match the weight of the products in the shipping containers.

Onion smuggling is a cause for concern among farmers’ groups. The entry of illegally imported red and white onions comes at a time when the harvest season is about to start. Onion smuggling causes local farmgate prices to drop to as low as P10 to P11 per kilo.