Zamboanga: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has taken decisive action by destroying PHP87.6 million worth of spoiled smuggled rice and sugar commodities in Zamboanga.
According to Philippines News Agency, Manuel Zurbito Jr., the district collector of BOC-Port of Zamboanga, confirmed that the rice and sugar were declared unfit for human consumption by the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture. This destruction is a measure to ensure public safety and prevent these goods from reaching consumers. Zurbito emphasized that such actions are essential to protect public health, deter smuggling, and ensure that only safe and lawful products enter the market.
The destroyed goods included 25,151 sacks of rice weighing 25 kilos each, 11,886 sacks of rice weighing 50 kilos each, and 1,305 sacks of sugar weighing 50 kilos each, with a total value of PHP87.6 million. Zurbito noted that the value was calculated at the time of the goods' arrival. The rice commodities were seized during anti-smuggling operations on December 18, 2019, and September 12, 2021, while the sugar was confiscated on November 4 and December 27, 2024.
The destruction was carried out after obtaining the necessary legal clearances and a condemnation order. The process involved pulverizing the materials, spraying them with pressurized water, and burying them in a pit. Officials and representatives from BOC's partner law enforcement agencies were present to witness the activity.
