The Bureau of Customs busted on Wednesday a 20-footer container of glutinous rice estimated to be worth P2 million.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña bared the contents of the container as glutinous rice after conducting 100% physical examination on the shipment of Worldwide Apparel Manufacturing Inc.
“The consignee declared it as polyester knitted breast cup, however, during the conduct of x-ray examination, a different image was retrieved from the machine which led to the issuance of alert order as per recommendation of the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP),” Lapeña said.
Head of XIP Maj. Jaybee Raul Cometa said the shipment was not yet 100% physically examined on September 5 due to the absence of the representative from Worldwide Apparel.
RA 10863 Sec. 1129 (c) provides that when regulated goods are subjected to alert order and the assessed duties, taxes, and other charges thereof are not paid within 15 days from notification from the Bureau of the resolution of the alert order, the shipment shall be deemed abandoned.
“Today is the expiration of the 15-day allowance, failure of the consignee to pay the duties and taxes will result in the abandonment of the shipment,” Cometa said.
The presence of rice instead of the declared item is a prima facie evidence of smuggling, we will recommend the issuance of warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment to Commissioner Lapeña, Cometa added.
In violation of a provision in the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, Commissioner Lapeña said the shipment will undergo forfeiture proceedings.
“The shipment will undergo forfeiture proceedings and we will file the corresponding criminal charges against the consignee,” the customs chief said.
The Commissioner encourages all Customs employees to guard the borders against the entry of these smuggled products and illegal drugs. | BOC- PR
