MANILA – The Bureau of Customs intercepted 200 container vans loaded with 100,000 sacks of smuggled rice at the Manila International Container Port in the first week of June.
The sacks of Thailand White Rice from Vietnam were consigned to Sta. Rosa Farm Products Corp., Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña confirmed on Thursday.
The shipment – valued at P80 million – had no import permit required by the National Food Authority (NFA), the Customs said.
Under NFA rules, all rice importers should secure a permit from the agency before their goods are allowed entry, Lapeña noted.
Duties and taxes for the 150 container vans amounted to P31.4 million. The remaining 50 container vans were still under abandonment proceedings.
Lapeña said this is by far the biggest haul of agricultural products the bureau had since he assumed his post.
The importer faces charges for violation of Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and for agricultural smuggling. (UNTV News and Rescue)
