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Customs agents and officers from other government agencies found P936 million worth of local and imported Thai sugar in four warehouses they inspected in Meycauayan, Bulacan, on September 8
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The operation was carried out as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s marching orders to BOC to inspect warehouses that are allegedly hoarding sugar amid the supply crisis in the country
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Owners or representatives of the warehouses were given 15 days to present documentary proof that the Thai sugar found was imported legally into the country
Bureau of Customs (BOC) officers, joined by agents from other government enforcement agencies, found P936 million worth of local and imported Thai sugar in four warehouses in Meycauayan, Bulacan, one of several they inspected for allegedly storing imported sugar on September 8.
Agents from BOC-Manila International Container Port, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Intelligence Service of the AFP, Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the National Intelligence and Security Force, conducted the inspections armed with nine Letters of Authority and mission orders from the Customs commissioner, BOC said in a statement.
The operation is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s marching orders to BOC to inspect warehouses that are alleged to be hoarding sugar amid the supply crisis in the country, BOC said in a statement.
Found during the inspections were 11,717 sacks of local sugar with assorted brands and 50,182 sacks of Mitr Phol pure refined sugar from Thailand. These were stored at B3L5 Kendex Drive, Polyland Industrial Subdivision.
The agents found 60,876 sacks of imported sugar with assorted brands from Thailand stored at Edison Lee Mktg at Dazo Compound.
Another 1,860 sacks of Mitr Phol pure refined sugar from Thailand were found in a warehouse on Olympia Street, Sterling Industrial Park, while 62,734 of locally produced sugar with assorted brands, as well as kitchenware and general merchandise, were found in a warehouse on Copper Street, Muralla Industrial Park.
BOC said representatives from the Sugar Regulatory Administration did not join the inspection but were present during the inventory of the products to determine whether the locally packed sugar was indeed produced in the country amid derogatory reports saying smuggled sugar is being repacked as local.
The owners or representatives of the warehouse were given 15 days to present documentary proofs that the goods found were legally imported into the country. The warehouses were being guarded continuously pending the submission of documents.
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