BOC files smuggling raps vs rice trader, broker

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The case is the 127th filed by Customs in the past 17 months

IMPORTED RICE. The Philippines continues to import rice from various parts of the globe. Photo by AFP

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) sued a Cebu-based rice trader for smuggling, bringing the total number of smuggling cases filed by the agency to 127 over a period of 17 months. 

In a statement Thursday, April 11, BOC said JBD Trading owner Cecilio Durano and broker Joevel Delda were charged before the Department of Justice under the Run-After-The-Smugglers or RATS program.

The latest filing came after Abono Partylist group accused Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon of “single-handedly making the country the smuggling capital of Asia.” The group alleged there was rampant smuggling of rice and other agricultural goods in the past year.

Biazon dismissed the claim, saying it was politically motivated.

Following the latest case filing, Biazon said, “We are committed to protect the interest of our local farmers and no one can stop the Bureau of Customs from doing its job, no matter who gets the axe for doing illegal deals in the BOC.”

“We shall aggressively pursue this case today, as well as all the other cases we have already filed, to protect the interest of the government and the economy.”

Biazon said Durano and Delda were charged for declaring their P6-million rice shipment as insulator slabs to avoid paying for the required import permit. The anomaly was discovered by operatives of the Risk Management Office-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service. 

Durano was the consignee of 10- to 20-footer container vans of illegally imported rice from Taiwan that arrived at the Port of Cebu on February 22.

BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim explained BOC’s enhanced intelligence network made it easier for them to identify suspicious cargoes.

“The seizure of JBD Trading’s smuggled rice from Taiwan was the result our tightened intelligence network. Our continuing intelligence enhancement program has practically made it it impossible for smugglers to get through customs gates undetected,” Lim said. 

BOC said it got its first smuggling case conviction during Biazon’s term. An “ukay-ukay” trader was meted up to 9 years of imprisonment by a Manila Regional Trial Court Judge in 2012. – Rappler.com

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