PASG seizes smuggled sugar: Contraband repacked in sacks printed with names of local sugar producers

May 12, 2008 (The Manila Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- SOME 22,000 sacks of smuggled imported sugar worth P30 million were uncovered by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG)in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

The PASG head, Undersecretary Antonio "Bebot" Villar Jr., said criminal charges would be filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the warehouse owner and the importer after PASG operatives were through with their investigation.

According to Villar, the hot goods were stored inside an unnamed sugar warehouse, which is also being used as a repacking station, inside the Starling Compound, Meridian Industrial Park in Meycauayan.

Initial investigations revealed that the owner of the warehouse is a certain Danny Corral who is still in hiding. Coral is reportedly a wholesaler of sugar in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

PASG operatives, Villar added, also discovered that the smuggled sugar were repacked in sacks printed with names of local sugar producers, like the Central Azucarera de Bais, Inc. in Negros Oriental and Victoria's Milling Company, Inc. and First Farmers Holding Corporation in Negros Occidental.

The continuous operation of the PASG against unscrupulous sugar traders is in accordance with the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the PASG and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

Earlier, PASG operatives also seized P150-million worth of illegally imported exotic fowl meat and aquatic produce at a cold storage facility in Navotas, Metro Manila.

The raid on the Common Cold Storage Facilities came two weeks after the same team, led by Police Supt. Johnny Bacbac, pounced on two warehouses in the nearby San Rafael Village containing stocks of imported Peking duck and other aquatic produce.

The Navotas raid yielded frozen Peking duck, rice duck, Hong Kong geese, pork shrimp and imported fish as well as onions and garlic contained in eleven freezer vans and fifteen chillers. Also found were giant squids, salmon heads and other meat products like Angus beef, chicken and pork.

"We should be strict on the importation of these exotic fowl meats since intelligence reports indicated they did not pass scrutiny by veterinary authorities in the country of origin, in this case China. For sure, said shipment does not have clearance from concerned government agencies, like the Bureau of Animal Industry," Villar said.

Villar recently raised the alarm against the possible outbreak of the avian flu virus in the country for fear that the unregulated importation of exotic fowl meats may result in a health tragedy of unimaginable proportion.

He blamed some Customs officials for the proliferation of these smuggled fowl meats, which are the favorites of Filipino-Chinese clientele patronizing Chinese restaurants offering these dishes.

'"There will be no letdown in the operation against illegal importers of exotic fowl meat. PASG is concerned with public health. Just one slip and everything may go haywire as far as the avian flu virus is concerned. Customs should not endanger the lives of the public simply for their own vested interest," Villar said.

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