P40 million smuggled poultry, fish seized in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) confiscated approximately 130,000 kilos of smuggled poultry and fish during a raid on two cold storage facilities in Navotas on Friday.

The raiding team inspected the facilities, which allegedly have the same owner, in San Rafael Village after a month-long investigation.

Boxes of Peking duck, black chicken, duck embryo and various fish suspected to have been smuggled were found in the facilities, the DA said.

Some of the poultry and fish were found to have deteriorated.

Dennis Solomon of the DA’s inspectorate and enforcement team said they received an intelligence report last month indicating two locations in San Rafael Village selling Peking duck.

“According to NMIS, these items are still banned, proving that they are indeed smuggled,” Solomon said in Filipino.

The DA prohibits the sale of Peking duck from China to prevent the spread of bird flu.

The city government of Navotas has ordered the closure of the facilities even as their workers denied claims of illegal activities within the premises.

The seized products were turned over to the city government for proper disposal.