BOC Recovers P1.8-B Imported Sugar at Warehouse in Batangas
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has recovered P1.8 billion worth of imported sugar at a warehouse in Nasugbu, Batangas.
On Sunday (September 4, 2022), the Central Azucarera Don Pedro in Barangay Lumbangan was inspected by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP). About 378,889 sacks of both imported and local sugar were found there, according to BOC Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.
The operatives from Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) intelligence sections teamed up for the operation.
Approximately 197,590 sacks of the local Don Pedro white sugar and 181,299 bags of imported MITR PHOL brand pure refined sugar from Thailand were discovered during the examination. Each bag is weighs 50 kilogram.
In light of the nation’s sugar crisis, Ruiz stated that the inspection in Batangas is a part of their intensified efforts for “storage facilities accused to be hoarding sugar.”
“We consider this a huge breakthrough in our ongoing campaign against sugar hoarding. This may be one of our biggest operations to date since we started inspecting sugar storage facilities,” Ruiz said.
According to Ruiz, the CIIS-MICP gave a letter of authority and a mission order to the owners, their representatives, or whoever was in control of the products kept in the warehouse while it was temporarily padlocked and sealed.
While assigned BOC examiners lead the inventory of the sugar, which will be observed by the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Services, and representatives of the warehouse, BOC inspectors placed caution tapes on the entrances and exits of the warehouse.
Ruiz also said that the police authorities need to conduct more operations.
“Clearly, there is more work to do. As big as this inspection is in terms of what we have been focused on for the past couple of weeks, it seems some people or groups or businesses have yet to understand that we are dead serious about this mission,” Ruiz added.
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