Smuggling raps filed vs 6 traders, broker over P7-M rice shipments

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) smuggling charges against six traders and a broker for allegedly smuggling a total of P7 million worth of rice to Mindanao.

In a statement yesterday, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) and Run After The Smugglers (RATS) chief Peter Manzano said they filed charges against Little Giant Trading Co. owner Renato Nale and his broker Steve Semblant; and All System Logistics Inc. board chairman Mary Lou Estrada, chief executive officer Antonio Estrada, corporate secretary Humphrey Tumaneng, treasurer Ana Myrna Gonzales, and director Anthony Dexer Yu.

The two firms based in Cagayan de Oro City were accused of violating Sections 3601 and 3602, in relation to Section 101 and Sections 2503 and 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines.

The case reportedly stemmed from the alleged attempt of Little Giant and its broker to bring into the country four shipping containers of rice valued at P5 million last May 17 from Taiwan at the sub-port of Mindanao Container Terminal. The shipment was reportedly misdeclared as parts of a prefabricated house.

For its part, All System Logistics was accused of attempting to smuggle two 20-footer shipping containers of rice from Vietnam worth P2 million without the required import permit from the National Food Authority last March 15.