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Monday, October 06, 2003
Customs to auction seized rice
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) here said it will initiate auction proceedings once its legal division determines that the rice it recently seized was smuggled and does not have pertinent papers.
Last month, customs officials seized over 5,000 bags of rice worth over P6 million inside the warehouse compound of WG&A in Makar.
The seized items were about to be shipped to Manila when apprehended by customs authorities here.
BOC port collector Lowell Medija told reporters over the weekend that they discovered that rice loaded inside 13 twenty-foot container vans was imported, contrary to the declaration of the shipper, Koronadal-based Double R Trading.
The hot items were reportedly smuggled from Kaoshiung in Taiwan and were re-bagged before being scheduled for shipment to Manila to avoid detection.
"We have already issued the warrant of seizure and detention. So the cargo will be confiscated in favor of the government and they will be subject for auction," said Medija.
Medija said the shipper declared the cargo as yellow corn. It was reportedly the second shipment of its kind here.
"Allegedly, this is the second time for the shipment of such smuggled rice and we were fortunate enough to apprehend this second shipment," Medija revealed.
Medija said rice smugglers are testing the capability of local customs authorities in monitoring and apprehending illegal rice shipments from the city.
"Itong nangyayari ngayon, parang nag-attempt lang sila o di kaya'y tini-test nila iyong feasibility na makalusot sila dito sa Makar (The incident indicates that they are testing the possibility of using Makar as a transshipment point)," Medija said. MFV
(October 6 2003 issue)
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