The Bureau of Customs (BOC)- Port of Zamboanga has intercepted, on two separate occasions, P9.49 million worth of imported fresh red onions loaded inside the two watercrafts in Zamboanga City.

The first operation occurred on January 22 along Barangay Labuan’s coastal areas involving a jungkong-type motorized wooden watercraft marked as TIMZZAN. The vessel contained 1,624 mesh bags of imported fresh red onions, amounting to P2,598,400.

The second operation occured on January 23, which involves 4,308 mesh bags of imported fresh red onions worth P6,892,800 in a jungkong-type cargo watercraft marked as MJ MARISSA at Varadero de Cawit in Barangay Cawit, Zamboanga City.

The seized onions have no Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Plant Industry, thus violating Section 1401 of Republic Act (R.A.) 10863, otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016”, in relation to R.A. 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.”

The onions were turned over to the DA and transported to its Research Center in Barangay Talisayan, Zamboanga City for safekeeping.

The operations followed the directive of Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz to ensure effective coordination and collaboration with other border enforcement agencies.

The BOC-Port of Zamboanga will continue to boost its efforts against smuggling in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s standing order to intensify border control measures to curb smuggling.