By Ruben Veloria/Philippine News Agency
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero ordered on Friday the immediate revocation of the customs accreditation of both the importer and customs broker behind the smuggling of PHP60 million worth of refined sugar from Thailand.
Guerrero said criminal charges will also be filed against them.
In a press briefing held at the New Container Terminal here, he said the confiscated goods arrived from Hong Kong on March 31 and April 7.
He said the shipment was declared as floor mats and plastic covering consigned to a certain JRFP International Trading.
Guerrero also said the warrant of seizure and detention were issued against the shipment on April 12.
“If this sugar was successfully smuggled out, it would have severely affected our local sugar industry,” he said.
Guerrero lauded the law enforcers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Subic, for “a job well done.”
Port of Subic district collector, Maritess Martin, said the shipment, composed of 21,760 bags of Thailand refined sugar and about 1,000 boxes of assorted firecrackers, was hauled in 34 units of 40-footer containers, but was misdeclared as floor mats and plastic coverings.
Accordingly, the confiscated sugar will be properly audited before they are put up for bidding, while the fire crackers will be disposed of after proper documentation.
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