The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Office of the Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement (DA I&E), received derogatory information regarding a total of 57 container vans—thirty-seven (37) of which were consigned to Asterzenmed, Inc. and twenty (20) to Victory JM Enterprise—allegedly containing smuggled agricultural products.
Upon receipt of the intelligence report, a team composed of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)team conducted a series of operations at the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC).
On December 15, 2022, twelve (12) container vans from Asterzenmend Inc. and Victory JM Enterprise consisting of fresh red and white onions, frozen mackerel, frozen buffalo meat, and frozen round scad were inspected. Three (3) of the container vans were from Hong Kong and nine (9) were from China. The total estimated market value of seized agri-fishery products is P73.9 M.
In a subsequent operation on December 19, 2022, seven (7) alerted containers consigned to Asterzenmed Inc. and Victory JM Enterprise were found to contain white onions, frozen mackerel, frozen pork meat, boneless buffalo meat, and frozen boneless beef with an estimated market value of P51.4 M. Three (3) container vans were imported from China, while the rest were shipped from Hong Kong.
A follow-up operation was conducted on December 20, 2022, seizing twelve (12) container vans from Asterzenmend Inc. and Victory JM Enterprise consisting of white and yellow onions, fresh carrots, boneless beef front feet, and frozen round scad. The total estimated market value of agricultural products is P71.5 M. One (1) of the vans was from Poland, two (2) were from Hong Kong, and nine (9) were from China.
Another inspection was conducted on the following day, with fifteen (15) alerted containers consigned to Victory JM Enterprise and Asterzenmed Inc. seized. More than P101.1 M worth of white/yellow and red onions, frozen round scad, frozen mackerel, frozen pork meat, and frozen boneless beef were seized. Two (2) container vans were from Hong Kong while thirteen (13) were from China.
Another operation was conducted on January 6, 2023. Seven (7) container vans from China consigned to Asterzenmend Inc. were found to contain smuggled red onion, frozen squid, suckling pig and other frozen products worth P56 M.
The latest reported operation, which took place on January 9, 2023, resulted in the discovery of five (5) container vans from China, consigned to Asterzenmend Inc. containing squid skewers, wrapped pork, roasted lamb leg, and other assorted frozen products with an estimated value of P43.7 M.
Overall, the consecutive inspections resulted in about P397.97 M worth of seized agricultural goods that were either misdeclared, misclassified, and/or had no SPSIC.
The DA I&E filed a total of twenty (20) counts against Victory JM Enterprise and Asterzenmed Inc. for violation of the Food Safety Act of 2013 (R.A.10611) and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 (R.A. 10845).
Assistant Secretary for DA I&E James Layug also guaranteed that additional charges are yet to be filed against the identified importers for endangering the public’s health and the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk. ###
