Customs files complaints vs alleged rice smugglersPhoto from the Bureau of Customs shows the rice confiscated by the BOC during a raid on a warehouse in Las Piñas on Sept. 14, 2023MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs filed four smuggling complaints against alleged rice importers connected to a raided warehouse in Bulacan, the Presidential Communications Office said Sunday. The BOC filed three charges of economic sabotage against three rice importers, while one was for the violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act under agricultural product smuggling. In August, the BOC discovered sacks of imported rice and local palay sitting in warehouses in Bulacan province. A case build-up is also underway for the purpose of filing charges against alleged smugglers in Zamboanga City. The government began imposing a cap on rice prices in September to reduce the retail prices of the staple item and penalize hoarding.

Source: Philippine Star October 01, 2023 11:01 UTC