Authorities seized over ₱1.5 billion worth of suspected smuggled agricultural goods from a cold storage facility in Barangay Dalandanan, Valenzuela City, amid an ongoing investigation into potential holiday hoarding.
The joint raid, conducted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), uncovered nearly 100,000 sacks of onions predominantly originating from China. Investigators also recovered boxes of ginger and carrots, alongside sacks of peanuts and mung beans imported from China, Myanmar, Indonesia, India, and Australia.
According to NBI Regional Director Emeterio Dongallo, the recovered stocks appeared old and had likely been stored for an extended period, leading investigators to suspect they were being held for release during the Christmas season.
Furthermore, authorities discovered a discrepancy of over 41,000 sacks between the physical inventory at the warehouse and the official records maintained by the BOC and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno noted that the seized shipments evaded an estimated ₱168 million in duties and taxes that could have otherwise supported government programs.
The NBI has issued subpoenas to 10 individuals, including the warehouse owner, while evaluating potential immigration lookout orders. Officials have given the warehouse owner a two-week window to provide valid importation documents.
“They still have the chance to present their documents, but as of today, the way we see it, mahihirapan silang ilusot ‘yung sarili nila dito,” Nepomuceno said.
Authorities are yet to determine whether the confiscated onions will be destroyed or distributed. Individuals found culpable for agricultural smuggling and hoarding face non-bailable offenses under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.