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4 individuals found guilty of rice smuggling
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The decision was handed out by the Presiding Judge of the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Orion-Pilar, Bataan on Sept 9
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The accused were sentenced to imprisonment for three years and six months to four years and eight months
Four rice traders were convicted of smuggling rice in Orion, Bataan by the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Orion-Pilar, Bataan on Sept 9.
On Feb. 24, 2021, the vessel LCT Yellow River was apprehended and multiple trucks were found discharging and loading smuggled rice and cigarettes at the Orion Dockyard, Orion, Bataan, the Bureau of Customs said in a statement.
The BOC said the importation, worth P260 million, was unloaded from a mother ship originating from Vietnam and loaded onto LCT Yellow River. The importation, appearing to be consigned to Asia Pacific Rice Trading Corporation, was accompanied with fake Statement of Settlement of Duties and Taxes for the rice, and lack of tax seal for the cigarettes.
The crew of LCT Yellow River and the various trucks with more or less fifty individuals were subjected to inquest proceedings on charges in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other laws.
Through the assistance of the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), various criminal cases were filed before the MCTC, Regional Trial Court, and Court of Tax Appeals.
In the cases pending before the MCTC, the presiding judge found all the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating the CMTA and were sentenced to imprisonment for three years and six months to four years and eight months.
