BOC to auction P154 M worth of smuggled rice

MANILA, Philippines - The 93,977 bags of smuggled rice from Vietnam seized in Legazpi City, Albay last year will be auctioned for more than P154 million, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced yesterday.

BOC district collector Leovigildo Dayoja said they have divided the items to be auctioned off into two sets on Aug. 15.

 The first set consists 93,952 bags of rice with a price of P154,566,545.

The remaining 25 bags of rice worth P15,000 were recommended as ingredients for animal feed since they are not fit for human consumption.

The smuggled rice are currently stored at the warehouse of Sun-west Corp. in Bonot, Legazpi City.

 According to the BOC, the consignees of the “hot” goods were the Ugnayan Mangbubukid ng San Isidro Inc., Malimpampang Concerned Citizens Multipurpose Cooperative, Sili Multipurpose Cooperative, Samahan ng Magsasakang Kapampangan at Katagalogan Multipurpose Cooperative, and the Kapatiran Takusa Multipurpose Cooperative.

 The shipment of smuggled rice arrived in the country on Sept. 2, 2012.

The BOC set the auction on Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Port of Legazpi.

 In the event of a failed bidding, the second auction date would be held the following day.