BOC to file economic sabotage case over P202M misdeclared frozen mackerel shipment

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced on Friday its intent to file an economic sabotage case and other legal actions against individuals involved in the misdeclaration of a P202 million shipment of frozen mackerel.

Earlier this month, 19 forty-foot container vans carrying falsely declared products were seized at the Port of Manila; they had been misrepresented as various food items such as fried taro sticks, cuttlefish-flavored balls, and taro sweet potato balls.

BOC has issued warrants of seizure and detention for these shipments and is coordinating with the Department of Finance to file criminal cases under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies large-scale agricultural smuggling as a heinous crime.

Misdeclaring agricultural products like frozen mackerel undermines food security and economic stability, according to BOC, and those responsible will face severe penalties.

The containers, originating from China, were put on hold in January after requests for examination by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the Plant Quarantine Service-Bureau of Plant Industry.