P34M smuggled onions, mackerel seized at Manila port

On Tuesday, July 1, local authorities seized P34.2 million worth of smuggled agricultural products from China at the Port of Manila, bringing the total value of confiscated goods to over P34 million.

Inspectors identified three containers containing approximately 74 metric tons of fresh red onions valued at P10.3 million and one container with yellow onions worth P3.82 million, while two others contained frozen mackerel estimated between P13 million to P20 million.

The six container shipments, which arrived on May 27 and June 1, were misdeclared as 'assorted food items' like mantou, egg noodles, and kimchi but were found to contain smuggled onions and mackerel.

Latinx Consumer Goods Trading was listed for two vans with red onions, while Lexxa Consumer Goods Trading was listed for one van of yellow onions and three with frozen mackerel.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and FDA Director General Paolo Teston noted that unapproved agricultural produce may not be safe for human consumption as it did not undergo the regulation of Food and Drug Administration, posing potential health risks such as E. coli and salmonella.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who cited possible violations of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, expressed frustration over the brazen acts of smugglers and added that another 59 containers from five companies in Subic are being held for inspection.