A BOC agricultural goods seizure operation in Valenzuela City resulted in the confiscation of agricultural products and other commodities valued at an estimated P524.27 million due to alleged irregularities in importation documents.
Among the items discovered inside the warehouse were more than 99,000 sacks of red onions, 20,000 sacks of beans and legumes, and 18,000 boxes of ginger and carrots.
Authorities also found other products, including peanut-based goods and various packaging materials.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the actual inventory inside the facility did not match the documents submitted by the warehouse operator.
The agency added that there was insufficient documentation to prove the legal importation of the goods, payment of the required taxes and duties, and the issuance of necessary permits.
The BOC is conducting the investigation in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Authorities are also assessing possible violations of Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2024.
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said operations against illegal importation activities will continue to protect the local agricultural industry and safeguard the livelihood of Filipino farmers.
The seized products remain under the custody of the Bureau of Customs while the investigation is ongoing.