BY GERRY LEE GORIT
Contributor
AS prices of red onions have reached P500 per kilo in the local market, the Bureau of Customs in Northern Mindanao was able to confiscate imported red onions with an estimated value of P20 million.
Atty. Justin Roman Geli, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in the Cagayan de Oro port district, the red onions came from China and arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal port in Misamis Oriental on Dec. 21.
He said the shipment was contained in two container vans with Asterzenmed Inc. identified as its consignee.
Geli said the red onions, weighing about 50,000 kilos, were declared as bread and pastries.
He added they have already requested the issuance of a warrant seizure and detention of the shipment.
In a press statement posted on the agency’s Facebook page, BOC-10 said District Collector Alexandra Lumontad has issued a pre-lodgement control order against the imported cargo following a joint request from the CIIS and the Customs’ Enforcement and Security Service led by Capt. Abdila Maulana Jr.
Lumontad issued a stern warning against unscrupulous individuals attempting to defraud the government of lawful revenues.
“Even during the holiday season, we will not wane our guard against agricultural smuggling, which affects our revenue collection for not only the government coffers but also our local farming industry,” the district collector said.
