P17-M worth of smuggled onions seized

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced this Tuesday that they seized an estimated P17 million worth of smuggled onions from China and hid them in “ukay-ukay” clothes.

According to the BOC, the onions were found in three containers declared to be clothes and household items that came from China.

But when a thorough physical examination of the containers was conducted on December 23, it was here that the onions were discovered, including P2 million worth of ukay-ukay.

“The bureau has, so far, examined, detained, and seized hundreds of millions worth of shipments that contain agricultural products this month alone. If they think they can use the ukay-ukay to hide the onions, they are mistaken,” according to Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.

“We swore to protect the country’s borders from this kind of illegal activities. But much more than that, we are also trying to protect our people, many of whom are deeply affected—and have been crying out—against the prices of the most basic of our food products,” he continued.

Ruiz praised the operatives of the agency for intensifying the campaign against those who smuggle agricultural products, such as onions.

P17-M worth of smuggled onions seized

Last week, the Department of Agriculture (DA) personnel seized P88 million worth of smuggled onions allegedly from China in separate operations.

It was said that boxes of buns or siopao were found in a container van inspected by the DA at the Manila International Container Port.

But hidden inside it is a sack of red and white onions.

In separate operations on December 14 and 19, eight container vans containing illegal onions and frozen goods were seized.

Based on information gathered by the DA, the smuggled onions are from China.

The DA expects onion prices to drop significantly in the coming months, especially during the harvest season from March to April.

Meanwhile, despite being high, there is still no movement in the prices of some basic commodities in Divisoria, such as chicken at P210, beef at P320, and pork at P290.