- Government operatives seized imported sugar worth an estimated P220 million and other articles in warehouses in Bulacan and Pampanga on August 18
- Malacanang warned unscrupulous traders against sugar hoarding
- Around 44,000 sacks of imported sugar were seized in the raids
- The sacks of sugar are suspected to be hoarded amid consumer complaints on high prices of sugar in the local market
- In Pampanga, BOC agents seized thousands of sacks of sugar from Thailand
Joint government operatives seized imported sugar worth about P220 million and other articles during separate operations in warehouses in Bulacan and Pampanga on August 18.
Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez on the same day warned unscrupulous traders against sugar hoarding amid the supply shortage.
The joint operations conducted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and Department of Agriculture (DA) led to the seizure of about 44,000 sacks of imported sugar with an estimated value of P220 million in New San Fernando Public Market in San Fernando, Pampanga and Kaypian Road in Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
BOC in a statement said the operations stemmed from coordination between the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and military intelligence.
“The BOC’s Pampanga sugar warehouse raid may very well serve as a warning to unscrupulous traders who are currently hoarding their stocks of sugar in order to profit from the current artificial sugar shortage situation,” a statement by the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) quoted Rodriguez as saying.
The OPS said the raid was made on orders from Rodriguez, acting on a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for the BOC to exercise its visitorial powers on all customs bonded warehouse and check their inventory to ensure there is no hoarding of sugar.
The sacks of sugar are suspected to be hoarded amid consumer complaints on high prices of sugar in the local market.
In Pampanga, BOC agents seized thousands of sacks of sugar from Thailand.
A Chinese-Filipino warehouse keeper identified as Jimmy Ng received a copy of the Letter of Authority and Mission Order from BOC agents. Also found in the warehouse were imported items such as sacks of corn starch from China, sacks of imported flour, plastic products, oil in plastic barrels, motorcycle parts and wheels of different brands, helmets, LED television sets, and paints.
The CIIS is making an inventory of the products and gave the warehouse owners 15 days to present documents to prove items were legally imported into the country.
If proven that the sugar originating from Thailand was smuggled, warehouse owners may face charges of smuggling in relation to the provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
In Bulacan, BOC said a certain Victor Teng Chua, the alleged owner of the warehouse in Bulacan, was invited to San Jose del Monte Police Station for questioning due to lack of permit from SRA. Government agencies are also verifying the possibility of large-scale hoarding of sugar by the owner of the warehouse.
BOC said failure to present import documents and proof of payment of duties and taxes on the seized articles would cause the issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention.
