In furtherance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that only safe and compliant products are sold in local markets, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), under the leadership of Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, continues to tighten border control measures, blocking ₱47.436 million worth of various frozen and processed food products at the Port of Subic.
According to Nepomuceno, the BOC will consistently push toward strengthening its intelligence-driven enforcement measures, as these remain a key factor in dismantling agricultural smuggling networks that undermine border security and public safety.
“The BOC will consistently push toward strengthening its intelligence-driven enforcement measures.”
The operation stemmed from actionable intelligence received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) regarding shipments containing misdeclared agricultural products, which triggered the issuance of Alert Orders.
Upon detecting subsequent incoming shipments from China bearing the same declared description, Pre-Lodgement Control Orders (PLCOs) were likewise issued. To verify the contents of the cargoes, a 100% physical examination was conducted, yielding 3,192 cartons of assorted food products—including frozen beef, pork, chicken, duck, and other pastry and seafood items, instead of the declared “assorted shabu-shabu balls.”
The confiscated products were presented to the media during an inspection led by the Commissioner, alongside Department of Agriculture – Philippines (DA) Undersecretary Carlos Carag and key Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials, underscoring strong inter-agency cooperation and the agency’s continued commitment to transparency in enforcement operations.
“The Bureau of Customs – Port of Subic will further intensify its enforcement efforts in securing the country’s borders against agricultural smuggling and other illicit trade activities.”
District Collector Noel Estanislao stated that the Bureau of Customs – Port of Subic will further intensify its enforcement efforts in securing the country’s borders against agricultural smuggling and other illicit trade activities.
The subject shipments constitute violations of Sections 1400 and 118 (e), in relation to Sections 117 and 1113 (f), (l)(4), and (l)(5) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), Republic Act No. 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009), and Republic Act No. 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013).
“This operation is a testament to the BOC’s consistent and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the public from unsafe and non-compliant products, while ensuring the protection of lawful government revenues, as part of its reform agenda through the Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization (IAM) Program,” Nepomuceno concluded.
