Illegally imported rice, cars seized in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  â€“ Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon led Thursday’s seizure of 22 shipping containers of rice worth P12 million and a 40-footer shipping container with three cars smuggled through the Sasa Wharf here.

In the 40-footer shipping container were a used Daewoo Rezzo, Kia Carens and Hyundai Sonata, whose value was still being determined. 

The smuggled shipments were discovered by Customs Intelligence Group operatives under Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim. 

The rice shipment was consigned to three different Davao companies, namely Mactech Industrial Machines and Supply, Berthand Enterprises, and All Systems Logistics.

Mactech’s rice shipment in 10 shipping containers was misdeclared as stone slabs. The illegally imported rice from Singapore was estimated at P5 million. 

Berthand Enterprises’ 10 shipping containers of rice from Singapore valued at P5 million arrived at the Port of Davao last March 23 and were declared to supposedly contain cellulose fiber.

The two other shipping containers of rice were consigned to All Systems Logistics.

The three vehicles which came from Korea were consigned to Philippine Genesis Freight Unlimited Inc., a forwarding company.

Biazon said the consignees of the illegally imported rice “deliberately misdeclared their shipment to avoid the required rice import permit from the National Food Authority.”

“If we have to seize smuggled rice each day, we will do it, if only to show how serious is the BOC’s campaign against smuggling,” Biazon said, adding that over 1,000 shipping containers of illegally imported rice were confiscated at the Port of Cebu recently.

For his part, Lim said, “We are happy and thankful for the support we are getting from private individuals in our campaign against smuggling. The BOC is happy that our anti-smuggling efforts are being recognized by the people through the support we are getting from them.”

“No one will be spared by our anti-smuggling campaign,” he added.

– With Evelyn Macairan