Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, alongside Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., and District Collector Alexander Gerard E. Alviar inspected 19 forty-foot containers of frozen mackerel misdeclared as frozen fried taro at the Port of Manila (POM) on March 03, 2025.

The containers from China were put on hold on January 20, 2025, after receiving a request for an intrusive and non-intrusive examination from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS-POM), following the same request from the Plant Quarantine Service-Bureau of Plant Industry (PQS-BPI) due to pending compliance with PQS requirements.

On February 13, 2025, an alert order was issued by the Office of the District Collector against the subject shipment to prompt further investigation.
Upon the conduct of a physical examination witnessed by concerned parties on February 18 and 19, 2025, District Collector Alviar immediately ordered the issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) for violation of Section 1113 in relation to Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the fight against agricultural smuggling and protect the nation’s food security, the BOC remains steadfast in preventing the illegal entry of agricultural products into the country. The President has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement measures to dismantle smuggling networks that threaten local industries and disrupt market stability.

Commissioner Rubio commended the collaborative efforts of the BOC-POM, DA, and other concerned offices for ensuring that all shipments adhere to regulations protecting both consumers and the nation’s agricultural industry.

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