P30-M “smuggled” sugar seized at Subic port — SRA
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated P30 million worth of alleged smuggled sugar at the Port of Subic, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).
SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) held the release of 10,000 bags containing 500 metric tons of misdeclared sugar imports from Vietnam.
The SRA did not disclose the consignee, saying it had yet to know the identity of the importer.
In a briefing on Tuesday evening, Azcona said the commodity confiscated about three weeks ago contained 88 percent sugar and 12 percent glucose but was declared as white sweet powder.
‘Not sugar’
“It’s technically brought in as not sugar. However, it’s under[going] testing (to determine its sugar content)…” he said, adding the SRA deployed its personnel to extract samples for chemical analysis.
“I feel based on the packaging and everything and the physical appearance, it seems it is intended for resale. But that’s just my personal opinion,” he told reporters.
Azcona said the testing will prove if the commodity is indeed sugar. If confirmed, the BOC will confiscate it or sell it via the Kadiwa store.
Up for auction
“Usually, confiscated sugar gets sold [or] auctioned out. However, we are suggesting that before it gets auctioned, it should be classified by the SRA as [products for] domestic [use]. It should be reclassified so we can record the volumes,” he added.
Azcona stressed that the proliferation of such commodities could disrupt the entire sugarcane industry.
“If there are things entering this way unnoticed –[because] we base our plans on our production and the sugar that we legally import – it will ruin our plans,” he added.
Under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, smuggling, hoarding and cartel operations involving agricultural products are considered economic sabotage.
Smuggling and hoarding of agricultural products are also considered economic sabotage when the value of goods exceeds P10 million.
