THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated smuggled shipment of sugar worth P18 million also consigned to Rubills International Inc. at Manila Port Wednesday morning.
The bureau on Tuesday filed criminal charges against 11 officials of the said firm for illegally importing wheat flour worth P30 million, which was inspected by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early this week.
The apprehended shipment, which was misdeclared as soya beans, entered the port on April 6 from Singapore.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the importer wanted to evade payment of duties after declaring the shipment as soya beans since the duties imposed on soya is only 10 percent of the dutiable value compared to the duties imposed on sugar shipment, which is at 50 percent.
He added that the importation of soya beans is not regulated unlike sugar.
On the other hand, the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) has taken samples of the commodity to analyze its variety.
Meanwhile, President Arroyo personally supervised the forfeiture proceedings of the P31.7 million worth of smuggled wheat flour she inspected last Monday.
Morales said he briefed and updated the President on the forfeiture of the 63 containers that came from China.
On April 2, 9 and 14, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) issued alert order against the importation, which arrived at the port without the required clearance and documents from the Bureau of Food and Drugs (Bfad).
Morales added that the flour forfeited in favor of the government will be disposed of in the manner provided for by law "and in this case the flour after clearances from BFAD this will be auctioned to augment the supply of market." (FP/Sunnex)
