MANILA, Philippines — Customs personnel in Davao City have seized P4.9 million worth of red onions that were allegedly smuggled from China.
The contraband, placed in four shipping containers, arrived at the wharf of the Terminal Facilities and Services Corp. on July 19.
The shipment was reportedly misdeclared as pastry packages from China, according to Customs district collector Erastus Sandino Austria.
A concerned citizen informed authorities that the consignee of the shipment, GBJ Consumers Goods, had a derogatory record.
The Bureau of Customs issued an alert order against the consignee, which resulted in the seizure of the contraband on July 21.
During inspection, Customs examiners found 2,500 bags of red onions in the container, Austria said.
The shipment had no import clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry, he said.