BOC seizes P50-M smuggled rice in Cebu

The Bureau of Customs reported yesterday another seizure of a large shipment of rice worth P50 million, in Cebu City.

The cargo – 45,000 bags of premium rice and 6,000 bags of refined white sugar – was seized from 52 20-foot container vans loaded on three vessels namely, Mary Elizabeth, Pacific Eagle, and Uni-Moral which all arrived at the Port of Cebu last June 22.

The cargo was misdeclared as textile chemicals and consigned to four different persons with addresses in Cebu and Ormoc City, Leyte.

The seizure came after the interception of about P16 million worth of rice carried in 25 container vans at Manila’s South Harbor.

Many more confiscations of rice have been reported in recent weeks, giving credence to claims by a group of rice traders that rampant smuggling is killing the local rice industry.

According to reports, grains retailers are accusing certain members of the National Food Authority of conniving with smugglers to earn some money before the NFA is privatized.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Titus Villanueva dispatched BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Enforcement Group Ray Allas to inspect the intercepted rice from Cebu.

The contraband was seized by Cebu Intelligence and Investigation Service chief Rogacion Ceniza Jr. – Jose Aravilla