Three trading firms were charged by the Bureau of Customs before the Department of Justice yesterday for attempting to illegally bring into the country P16.5 million worth of agricultural products.

Named in one of the three smuggling attempt cases were Marcelo Gomez, owner of Silver Glade Enterprise, and his customs broker, Ian Christopher Miguel, for attempting to smuggle a 40-footer container van of garlic worth P2 million from China without the required import permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

The shipment arrived at the Port of Manila on Oct. 3.

Likewise, Elusive Quality Trading owner Alejandro Santos and his broker, who also happens to be Ian Christopher Miguel, are being charged for their attempt to smuggle a 20-footer container van of onions from China.

Elusive Trading's shipment of onions worth P2 million without the required BPI permit also arrived at the POM on Oct. 2, 2012.

The owner of DMT Marketing, Melinda U. Tan, is being charged for her attempt to smuggle six 40-footer container vans of apples from China worth P12.5 million.

The shipment, which did not have the required BPI permit, arrived at the Port of Cagayan De Oro on Oct. 30.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group Maria Edita Tan said the respondents are being charged for violation of Section 3601 in relation to Section 101 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended, and Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1433 Promulgating the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978.

“In line with the BOC's aggressive campaign against smuggling, we will file more cases in the days ahead and strongly pursue for convictions on these cases.” Tan said.*PNA

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