BOC seizes P34-M ‘hot’ sugar

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) yesterday seized P34-million worth of Thai sugar from China and Singapore that were allegedly smuggled into the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

In a statement, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group (IG) Jesse Dellosa said 24 40-footer shipping containers that held around 13,200 sacks of sugar arrived at the MICP.

Twenty-one of the containers, reportedly consigned to Blue Chelsea, came from Beijing while the remaining three containers, said to have been consigned to Real Top Enterprises, came from Singapore.

The shipments were misdeclared as vacuum flasks, plastic tumblers, kitchenware, slippers, combs, chessboards, plastic cases, children’s bicycles, plastic chopsticks, sunglasses, plastic trays, paper cups, toothbrushes, storage boxes and articles of clothing such as shorts, socks, caps and trousers.

Dellosa said inspectors found the sacks of sugar hidden behind boxes of the declared items.

He added what tipped off the inspectors was the weight of the containers.

“They were so heavy despite the contents declared by the importers only as kitchenware, clothes, and toys,” he said. 

Last month, the BOC’s Enforcement Group seized eight 40-footer shipping containers of illegally imported Thai sugar consigned to Real Top Enterprises.