The Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Trade and Industry on Monday (April 4) conducted a joint operation against agricultural product smuggling in Divisoria.
Around 70 boxes of smuggled carrots and broccoli weighing 20 kilos each were confiscated by authorities. The BOC said none of the seized products were claimed.
The Inter-Agency Task Force has been conducting inspections since last year in a bid to help local farmers through eliminating smuggled agricultural products in the market.
DA Inspector Officer Serapio Garabiles, Jr. questioned the importation of the products, saying the country has sufficient local production.
“Ang ipinagbabawal na i-angkat natin ‘yung mga produkto na mayroon tayong local production tulad nito. Marami naman tayo nito, bakit pa tayo nag-i-import?” he said.
The BOC said it cannot keep all smuggled agricultural products from entering the country despite its rigid inspection conducted in ports, but assured that enforcers will strengthen the campaign against illegal importation. – Report from Gillian Geronimo/KC-ag
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