BOC intercepts P9M worth of unauthorized sugar imports

On Thursday, May 29, 2025, authorities intercepted two shipments of sugar at the Port of Manila for lacking necessary import permits.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) led by Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and other agencies conducted inspections revealing that both shipments violated customs and importation rules, with an estimated worth of P9 million.

The first shipment, arriving on May 23 from Thailand, contained 1,000 sacks of refined sugar without the required import allocation and clearance.

A second shipment, which arrived on April 29, was also found to be unauthorized with 1,040 bags labeled as 'sweet mixed powder', and its consignee disowned it citing unexpected arrival and demurrage costs.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that smuggling agricultural commodities will not be tolerated, and these operations align with his directives to protect the welfare of Filipino people.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel stated that closer coordination among government agencies and stricter laws should deter illicit trading practices.

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) was instructed to blacklist the importers involved in the seized sugar shipments.