Trader, MICP execs sued over P13.5-million smuggled sugar

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) yesterday filed criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against an importer tagged in the smuggling of P13.5 million worth of sugar into the country.

The BOC filed charges against businessman Dennis Narra, owner of Don Trading Corp., and customs broker Ameloden Buruan Riga for the smuggling of some 5,000 sacks of sugar, which were seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last week.

Narra and Riga were specifically charged for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, fraudulent practices against customs revenue, unlawful importation, misdeclaration, large-scale agricultural smuggling and economic sabotage.

Also named respondents were MICP acting district collector Fidel Villanueva, who approved the recommendation for the lifting of alert orders; special assistant on assessment for the district collector Terencio Comon, and Office of the District Collector representative Gerardo Porible.

Nine BOC employees were also included in the charge sheet for allegedly conspiring with the importer and broker to facilitate the release of the smuggled sugar.

They were customs examiners Ruel Pantaleon, Raul Cimagala Jr., Vanzandt Remonde, Edmar Batino, and Robert Tuason; customs appraisers Jose Saromo, Benjamen Cayao, Leonora Navarro and Arlene Salazar.

The cargo, which arrived from Thailand on July 13, was placed in 10 shipping containers.