TWO consignees who have expressly abandoned 10 container vans declared with “kimchi” but found to have been loaded with almost P1 million worth of white onions from China are now under investigation.
Collector Ciriaco Ugay, chief of the Bureau of Customs – Port of Cebu, said he instructed the Legal Division to conduct a thorough investigation behind the attempt to smuggle white onions.
“It’s clear under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) that even if they have expressly abandoned the shipment, they may still be held liable,” Ugay said on Monday, July 17.
Ugay, however, clarified that only nine containers actually contained kimchi (traditional Korean fermented and salted vegetables, usually cabbage) as front, as one container was loaded with egg noodles in front.
“Natuboan na ng mga dahon ‘yung mga bumbay (The onion grew leaves) and many are rotting already. They are not fit for human consumption because they are rotting already and there is no phytosanitary certificate,” the customs official said, adding that he already ordered the condemnation for the shipment.
The shipment arrived at the Cebu International Port on Jan. 15 this year, but the consignees did not claim.
Instead, they submitted a letter to former BOC-Cebu Collector Elvira Cruz expressly abandoning the 10 containers. (PNA)/PN
