7,000 Metric Tons of Sugar Seized

7,000 metric tons of smuggled sugar were seized at the Port of Subic, Zambales, with the ship M/V Bangpakaew being detained in the latest development in the sugar fiasco in the country.

M/V Bangpakaew from Thailand was suspected of carrying smuggled sugar and was confirmed following a tip, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The smuggled sugar amounted to approximately 140,000 bags of sugar that were classified as Reserved Sugar Bottlers’ Grade by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) per Sugar Order No. 3, series of 2021-2022.

According to the BOC, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services has already sent investigators to the Port of Subic following the seizure of the illegal contraband to gain leads about the shipment.

Moreover, the BOC is also considering the filing of charges depending on the investigation outcome.

This is the latest in the sugar importation mess the government has been facing in recent weeks. The seizure of the smuggled sugar in the Port of Subic follows the seizure of PHP220 million worth of imported sugar in Pampanga and Bulacan “raids.”

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles clarified that the visits to the warehouses were not raids, but were an exercise of visitorial powers from the Bureau of Customs upon the order of Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez.

The directive, the press secretary added, came from the president to check for smuggled or hoarded sugar.

“Hindi po siya raid, I apologized. Nagsagawa ng exercise of visitorial powers ang ating Bureau of Customs tungo sa orders ni Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez tungo rin sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo na i-check ang mga warehouses para sa mga smuggled or hoarded na asukal,” Cruz-Angeles said.

The different visits by Joint operatives from the BOC, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and Department of Agriculture (DA) yielded 44,000 sacks of imported sugar.

The warehouses were closed down and the owner was questioned for lacking an SRA permit.

Moreover, the owners of the warehouses are suspected of large-scale hoarding of sugar. (GFB)