The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu uncovered smuggled white onions concealed in a shipment of “kimchi” from China with an estimated value of Php998,700.00.

The shipment arrived at the Port of Cebu and declared to contain 147 boxes of kimchi said to be worth Php183,750.00. Over a month later, the consignee expressly abandoned the shipment.

A Decree of Abandonment was immediately issued against the subject shipment pursuant to Section 1129(a) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 17-2019.

Upon finality of the abandonment proceeding, the Inventory Team of the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division conducted an initial examination and inventory of the subject container vans. The examination of the first container yielded 3,329 bags of undeclared white onions stacked behind the boxes of kimchi. The inventory of the other container is still ongoing.

Upon completion of the examination and inventory, the smuggled white onions and kimchi will immediately be disposed of in accordance with existing customs rules and regulations, and in close coordination with the Bureau of Plant Industry.