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Customs seizes P50 million worth of 'smuggled' rice from Thailand
Customs Commissioner John Sevilla (left) and Secretary Francisco Pangilinan, presidential adviser on food security and agricultural modernization, inspect rice that was "illegaly imported" from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port on Wednesday, September 24. The shipment was seized by the Bureau of Customs for lack of required impAtort permit from the NFA. BOC
At least P50 million worth of supposedly smuggled white rice was seized by the Bureau of Customs, because the shipment did not have import permits from the government.
In an emailed statement Wednesday, the bureau said an estimated 1,250 metric tons of white rice were imported into the country without the necessary permits from the National Food Authority (NFA).
“Regardless of circumstances, it is very clear in the law that import permits are a requirement before the Bureau can clear regulated shipments like rice and all illegally imported items are subject to seizure.
"We will no longer tolerate nor allow situations where importers can clear shipments without valid permits as this puts our people in compromising situations and breeds corruption. It’s strictly ‘no permit, no entry," Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla said in the statement.
The shipment arrived in 25,000 50-kilogram bags at the Manila International Container Port from Bangkok, Thailand last June 2. It was consigned to Tres Mujeres Agri Venture.
According to the bureau, the shipment remained unclaimed for more than 30 days after it arrived.
"The Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines provides that this should already be considered by the consignee," the statement read.
Republic Act 7178 allows NFA and private companies with permit from NFA to import rice, the bureau said. – Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/VS, GMA News
