SEIZED The vessel that carries 4,000 metric tons of Thai sugar worth P240 million was apprehended by a composite team of the Bureau of Customs in Batangas port on Friday (Jan 13, 2023). A warrant of seizure and detention was already issued against the vessel and the sugar shipment. (Photo courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized 4,000 metric tons of refined sugar from Thailand worth PHP240 million in Batangas port on Friday.
In a statement released Saturday, the BOC said a composite team immediately conducted an operation following a tip that VOI MV SUNWARD was carrying an undeclared shipment that arrived at the port on Thursday without notice of arrival filed with the BOC.
The confiscated shipment of white refined sugar (Sun brand) with a net weight of 50 kilograms per bag was consigned to Stone Int'l. Co. Ltd. from shipper the Thai Sugar Trading Corp.
Batangas Port District Collector Rhea Gregorio has issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the vessel and sugar shipment.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz lamented the continued attempts by smugglers to slip undeclared products into the country.
“We are appalled at the audacity of these groups to continue with their activities despite the BOC’s intensified efforts lately to apprehend them. But thankfully, our team is just as relentless and tenacious too, once and for all, end such reprehensible acts,” he said. (PNA)
