The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has formally endorsed six draft criminal complaints against three consignees to the Department of Finance (DOF) for review and approval. This move marks a significant escalation in the government’s crackdown on agricultural smuggling under the newly enacted Republic Act No. 12022, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
The complaints follow a series of targeted seizure operations conducted in June 2025, directly responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to fortify border security and stabilize the local agricultural market.
The total estimated value of the illicit goods—calculated using the Department of Agriculture’s daily price index—exceeds ₱90 million. The operations targeted several high-value shipments:
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White Onions & Carrots: Multiple shipments arriving on June 13 and 21, 2025, valued at ₱27,065,380.60.
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Frozen Mackerel: A massive single shipment arriving on June 21, 2025, valued at ₱43,823,940.60.
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Fresh Carrots & Frozen Mackerel: Combined shipments from a third consignee arriving on June 13, 2025, valued at ₱19,391,377.20.
Pursuant to Section 7 of R.A. 12022, the BOC has transmitted these complaints to the DOF for requisite approval before they are officially filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Beyond the external criminal charges, the Bureau is also looking inward. Parallel administrative actions have been initiated against BOC personnel to determine if internal negligence or collusion played a role in these shipments. “Every shipment that enters our borders must comply with the law,” said Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno. “We are pursuing these cases with the full weight of the law—not just to uphold customs regulations, but to protect our farmers and our local industries. There will be no compromise when it comes to activities that threaten our agricultural sector.”
