PNP raises smuggling alert

A day after intercepting over P11 million of smuggled frozen meat, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is anticipating the increase of smuggling activities in the country as the Christmas season approaches.

Senior Superintendent Don Montenegro, executive officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s Anti- Smuggling Task Group (CIDG-ASTG) said the government would be stepping up the campaign against smuggling.

"We will update the old records since in the coming months, from September to December, we anticipate many smuggling attempts for the Christmas season," Montenegro said during weekly Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis (TSIP) forum at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Montenegro added that the usual items being smuggled into the local market are chicken, pork, garments and toys.

"The price of smuggled pork and chicken will probably be lower than the local meat because smugglers do not pay taxes," said Montenegro, who warned that the practice could eventually kill the local industry.

Montenegro said the task at hand would not be that easy since the PNP-ASTG does not have the right to enter the Bureau of Customs areas. His teams have to wait outside the port compound before they can intercept smuggled shipments.

He also pointed that police cannot just stop every container van going out of the port for the lack of manpower. Doing so would also result in traffic jams and delay in the delivery of products.

Earlier, Montenegro’s team intercepted some P11.2 million of smuggled frozen meat from China. Police failed to arrest the importer and consignee of the smuggled products.

He also warned smugglers to stop their illegal activities and pay the right taxes.

"Mas malaki and mawawala sa kanila when police intercept their smuggled goods," Montenegro said.

The task force chief also noted that the CIDG is now coordinating with Customs to check the paper trail of the smuggled frozen meat and identify Customs employees and officials, who may have facilitated the release in exchange for huge sums. — With Rochelle Montano