October 5, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/DbI2jR
Sugar smugglers abandoned a dozen container vans of refined white sugar illegally imported from Thailand - camouflaged as kitchenware - that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), according to the Philippines' InterAksyon newspaper.
Officials said the two consignees apparently had cold feet about claiming the smuggled commodities after their respective shipments were alerted by the Enforcement Group (EG).
EG officers on case who did spot-checking discovered "refined white sugar" with markings "Thai Roong Sugar" product of Thailand at 50kg/bag. These were concealed either behind two layers of boxes containing stainless steel kettles or behind three layers of boxes containing plastic water jags inside the shipment.
The shipments containing 7,200 bags of 50kg each of refined white sugar have an estimated market value of PHP19.2 million (US$413,249).
"Recently, several container vans of smuggled sugar were nabbed by our Customs officials. This time, we have seized another bulk of sugar illegally imported from Thailand. We cannot afford to just shrug this issue off without doing anything. This is an important concern since sugar is a basic commodity, and rampant smuggling of sugar kills our local sugar industry." said Ariel F. Nepomuceno, deputy commissioner for BOC Enforcement Group on Thursday.
The one dozen 4x40' and 8x40' container vans were covered by Alert Orders previously issued by the EG and recommended for the Declaration of Abandonment.
The Abandonment Proceedings were instituted against the 4x40' and 8x40' container vans on August 6, 2015 and August 27, 2015. The shipments were declared abandoned following the consignees' failure to file the import entry, which may be construed as lack of interest to claim the shipments. This failure to file the required import entry is in violation of Section 1801 (b) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended.