The smuggled frozen Mackerel in Manila worth P202 million was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) inside a BOC compound warehouse.
During an inspection, authorities discovered that 19 massive containers were filled with frozen Mackerel instead of the declared frozen fried taro sticks.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio stated that the actual contents were deliberately misdeclared in shipping documents.
“Na-discover po natin na merong nag-attempt… nineteen (19) forty-foot containers of frozen Mackerel but were misdeclared as frozen white taro,” (We discovered that there was an attempt… 19 forty-foot containers of frozen Mackerel but were misdeclared as frozen white taro) Commissioner Rubio said.
Upon opening the containers, officials found them fully packed with boxes of frozen Mackerel instead of the stated products.
Rubio also revealed that suspicions about the shipment arose as early as January 20, prompting an investigation that led to the warehouse inspection.
Further inquiries confirmed that the smuggled frozen Mackerel originated from China.