At least P202.5 million worth of smuggled agri-fishery products, including red and white onions, were seized during separate operations at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in January, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said yesterday.
The PCO, in a news release said, the products were seized through a series of operations done by the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement, together with partner agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The operations yielded 24 container vans including 9 that were consigned to the Seaster Consumer Goods Trading Inc. and the rest to Asterzenmed Inc., the PCO said in the press release.
Nine container vans consigned to the Seaster Consumer Goods were loaded with fresh red and white onions with a total estimated market value of P77.8 million while three vans consigned to Asterzenmed had P23.4 million worth of fresh yellow onions, red onions, potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes, PCO said.
Succeeding operations yielded three container vans with P31 million worth of red onions, imitation crab stick, and frozen boneless beef; three vans with P24 million worth of red onions and assorted meat products; and three vans containing P21.5 million worth of assorted meat products that were All were consigned to Asterzenmed.
The last operations, done on January 27, led to the discovery of container vans loaded with potatoes and fresh yellow onions with an estimated value of P23.6 million.
