PINURI ni Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bien Rubio noong Huwebes, Nob­yembre 16, 2023, ang pagkaaresto sa isang big-time onion smuggler sa matagumpay na operasyon na mala­king hakbang ng kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa agricultural smuggling.

“This shows the commitment of the Marcos administration to go after these big-time agricultural smugglers. Bringing in these goods to the country illegally is a significant threat to our economy, to the livelihoods of small farmers, and to the competitiveness of legitimate businesses,” ani Rubio.

“I hope that this latest ope­ration will serve as a strong deterrent for other smugglers not to even attempt circumventing our laws and making a mockery of them,” dagdag pa niya.

Noong Miyerkoles, Nob­yembre 15, 2023, sinabi ni Senator Cynthia Villar na isang nagngangalang Jayson de Ro­xas Taculog ang naaresto matapos mahulihan ng smuggled na 30 containers ng mga sibuyas.

Binigyang-diin ni Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, dahil sa koordinasyon sa pangunahing government agencies, gayundin sa agarang aksyon ng BOC kaya naging matagumpay ang pagkakaaresto kay Taculog.

“This showcased our team’s unwavering commitment to bringing these perpetrators to justice and upholding the integrity of legitimate trade and importation. In many cases, smuggling agricultural, poultry, and food products pose a threat to the health and safety of consumers,” ayon sa kanya.

“For that alone, we want to make sure here in the BOC that we cover all bases and we see the finality of these cases,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.

Ang Marcos administrations ay naninindigan sa kampanya laban sa agricultural smuggling, bilang patunay ng pagsuporta ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., sa Senate Bill No. 2432—ang iminungkahing Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act— na idineklara bilang urgent.

Ang hakbang na magpapawalang-bisa sa Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, ay naglalayong wakasan ang smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, at cartel ng agricultural at fishery products.

Ang nasabing mga krimen ay may katapat na parusang habambuhay na pagkakakulong at multang tatlong beses ng halaga ng sangkot na agricultural and fishery products.

(JO CALIM)