SMUGGLED
The seized sugar came without SRA import clearance and was part of the continuing drive by the government against the illegal importation of agricultural products, said BOC acting Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.He said the confiscated refined sugar came from Thailand and arrived in the country on Sept. 24 inside 76 container vans.
Once most sugar mills are fully operational, there will be a sufficient supply of affordable sugar, the SRA said. Aside from this the SRA also issued import clearances for 6,625 metric tons that are intended for industrial users. “There is a lot of hocus pocus that these smugglers try to get away with their crimes. We aren’t just here looking for every hoarder and smuggler. We’re here to stop any action that would jeopardize our market prices, the local production, and the impact of these on our workers and consumers,” Ruiz said.