BOC files criminal cases before DOJ over P25.8-M worth of smuggled agri products

Through the combined efforts of the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) under the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG), the Port of Subic, and the Port of Cebu, the BOC successfully filed criminal complaints on 4 March 2022 before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against three traders of allegedly smuggling agricultural products amounting to over P25.8 million.

The first case is against GJ & M Global Resources and PFL Export Trading, who are allegedly involved in the unlawful exportation of over P4 Million worth of dried sea cucumber of assorted sizes, without any valid export commodity clearance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on 18 October 2021 at the Port of Cebu.

The second case is against GQA Prime Commodities Corp. and its customs broker due to the alleged misdeclaration and unlawful importation of various vegetables and fruits amounting to over P2.3 million on 24 November 2021 at the Port of Cebu.

The last case is against Zeechai Root Crops Trading for five (5) counts of violation of Customs laws and other allied laws due to the alleged misdeclaration and unlawful importation of 8×40’ shipments of assorted vegetables, fruits, and frozen meat and fish products worth P19.3 million on 22 and 28 of January 2022 at the Port of Subic.

The traders and customs broker involved in the illegal importation and exportation purportedly violated various provisions of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, and other rules and regulations issued by regulating agencies.

This year, BOC has filed 18 criminal cases involving 46 individuals and licensed customs brokers before the DOJ and administrative cases against 3 licensed customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission.