Fifty-nine out of 76 containers vans suspected of being loaded with smuggled agricultural products since June arrived via the Port of Subic, the Department of Agriculture said.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the seizure of the container vans was a result of 15 Alert Requests filed by DA since June this year.
On July 8, 2025 alone, the DA chief led various agencies in inspecting 10 container vans flagged in Subic port on suspicion they were loaded with smuggled agricultural commodities, potentially the biggest single seizure under the newly enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
The 10 containers vans, all imported from China, were found to be loaded with frozen mackerel, fresh carrots, and yellow onions—agricultural products that require import permits, which were notably absent. The goods loaded in 10 container vans were estimated to be worth PHP100 million. A 40-footer container van usually carry around 25 tons of cargo.
“We have here frozen mackerels, fresh onions, and carrots—all imported illegally, without the necessary regulatory clearances,” said Tiu Laurel, who also announced that he will go on medical leave starting July 9 and will resume duties by July 24, just days before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s annual State of the Nation Address.
“These products will be subjected to testing to determine their safety for human consumption. If found unfit, they will be destroyed immediately. Our priority is the protection of public health and the livelihood of our farmers and fisherfolk.”
Five of the inspected containers were consigned to 1024 Consumer Goods Trading and were loaded with frozen mackerel. The remaining five containers—two filled with fresh yellow onions and three with carrots—were consigned to Berches Consumers Goods Trading.
The operation was conducted by the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA-IE) Office in coordination with the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Subic, led by Collector Noel Estanislao. The inspection followed Alert Requests issued by the DA-IE and was carried out under the One DA Border Control Team framework, with representatives from the Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources present.
The intensified enforcement effort follows a direct order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to crack down on agricultural smuggling and protect the domestic food supply chain.
