The Department of Agriculture’s Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE) unit said it intensified its campaign against agricultural smuggling in 2024, conducting 71 operations that led to P2.83 billion worth of seized illicit goods—nearly a billion more than in 2023.
DA Undersecretary Carlos Carag reported the unit’s largest single seizure of P1.9 billion in imported rice intercepted during the first border inspection, followed by fisheries products worth P316.4 million.
“Last year’s operations exposed regulatory gaps that must be addressed and procedures that need streamlining to curb agricultural smuggling,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr.
He said the newly-enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act equips the DA with stronger tools to combat illicit trade that threatens farmers’ livelihoods and public health.
The DAIE collaborates with other agencies such as the Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to ensure regulatory compliance.
Eleven inspections between Jan. 19, 2024 and June 5, 2024 uncovered 32,825 metric tons of undervalued imported rice, resulting in a P285.3-million tax assessment.
Other interdictions included preventing the recycling of 90.2 metric tons of condemned meat valued at P74.9 million, while in Santa Maria, Bulacan, DAIE oversaw the destruction of P102.2 million worth of confiscated Chinese frozen food and black chicken.
A May border inspection uncovered 99.9 metric tons of contraband meat and other products worth P100 million at unlicensed cold storage facilities in Kawit, Cavite.
Meanwhile, Navotas inspections revealed P35.9 million worth of white onions, P13.5 million worth of carrots and P44,000 worth of tomatoes and mushrooms.
A joint operation in Subic in September seized P115 million worth of white onions and P8.4 million worth of cigarettes, and in November, inspections at the Port of Manila led to the confiscation of P178.5 million worth of frozen mackerel, which was later donated to Typhoon Kristine victims after passing safety tests.
A raid in Marilao, Bulacan, uncovered smuggled goods, including rotten onions, garlic, pigeon meat, and frozen bullfrogs, valued at P100 million.
