P9 million smuggled sugar seized at Manila port

MANILA, Philippines — Smuggled refined sugar from Thailand and Vietnam worth P9 million was confiscated at the Port of Manila on Wednesday. 

Four shipping containers carrying 2,000 50-kilo bags of sugar were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Agriculture and Sugar Regulatory Administration. 

Shipment consignees Lapaz Multi-purpose Cooperative and Yabai OPC have been ordered blacklisted by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. 

Lapaz reportedly did not have import permits and clearance to release imported sugar.

Yabai’s shipment was misdeclared as a sweetener mix that is subject to a lower tariff. 

The misdeclaration could have cost the government around P1.8 million in import duties. 

“We cannot let these illegal trading practices undermine the agriculture sector and hurt our farmers,” Tiu Laurel said. 

Meanwhile at the Port of Davao, almost 3,000 abandoned balikbayan boxes were turned over yesterday by the BOC to the Department of Migrant Workers. 

The balikbayan boxes were reportedly mishandled and abandoned by freight forwarders.