By Katrina Gracia Consebido
Two vessels carrying P9.49 million worth of imported fresh red onions were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Zamboanga in separate occasions this week.
A “TIMZZAN” jungkong-type motorized wooden watercraft was used in the first operation on January 22 along Barangay Labuan’s coastal areas, which contained 1,624 mesh bags of imported fresh red onions worth P2,598,400.00.
Another jungkong-type vessel marked as “MJ Marissa” at Varadero de Cawit in Barangay Cawit, Zamboanga City contained 4,308 mesh bags of imported fresh red onions worth P6,892,800.00.
The seized onions have no Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Plant Industry Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance, violating Section 1401 of Republic Act (RA) 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, and RA 19845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
The DA secured the onions at its Research Center in Barangay Talisayan, Zamboanga City.
The Bureau of Customs Port of Zamboanga said it will enforce the standing order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ramp up border control to combat smuggling. -ag
