9 traders linked to smuggling at BOC

MANILA, Philippines - There are nine and not just three known big-time traders who aid in the smuggling of containers at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

A BOC official, who requested anonymity, identified yesterday the traders as a certain T.Y. who is referred to as “Ma’am T,” “Big Mama,” and six other persons with surnames starting with the letter “T.”

The source said that T.Y. only assists in the illegal importation of resin, while Big Mama handles resin and general merchandise.

Two of the seven “Ts” are brothers “T and T,” while three others go by the initials “D.T.” and they are only differentiated by the descriptions “mataba (stout),” “mapayat (thin)” and “bata (young).” One is a certain “Tolentino.”

The ninth trader operating in the BOC is a certain “Dennis.”

Some of them reportedly have connections with government officials.

The source said that Tolentino is elderly, while the brothers T and T are second generation traders and following in the footsteps of their father “D.” They help import sugar and rice.

Mataba and mapayat have long been operating in the bureau, while bata is in his 30s and new in the business and helps smuggle rice into the country.