SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized ₱6.67-million worth of frozen poultry from Hong Kong, foiling an attempt to smuggle the meat out of Port of Subic by falsely declaring it as cooked tofu.
The seizure was made after receiving intelligence reports that a 40-foot container contains agricultural commodities.
Authorities subjected the identified cargo for a physical examination and uncovered 1,380 cartons of frozen chicken breast and 174 cartons of frozen fish tofu, instead of merely tofu.
Port officials recommended the immediate issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the shipment, while charging the consignee with multiple violations, including Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the Food Safety Act of 2013, and the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009.
District Collector Atty. Geniefelle P. Lagmay said in a statement, “Every interception is a reminder of our responsibility to safeguard legitimate trade and protect the interests of the Filipino people.”
Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno emphasized that recent organizational reshuffling at the port has not disrupted the agency’s border security operations.
Nepomuceno reaffirmed that despite the recent personnel movements and “internal cleansing” efforts at the Port of Subic, personnel at the Port remain focused on protecting the borders and faithfully carrying out their responsibilities as public servants.
The Commissioner also warned both the syndicates and their potential government accomplices, “Let this seizure serve as a warning to smugglers and those who enable or protect them, whether inside or outside government: the Bureau will relentlessly pursue violators and ensure that they are held accountable under the law.
PHOTO CAPTION
Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Geniefelle P. Lagmay (left) leads the inspection of the seized 40-footer shipment from Hong Kong containing 1,380 cartons of chicken breast worth ₱6.7-M misdeclared as tofu.(Photo courtesy of BOC –Subic)
