The Department of Agriculture’s Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE) unit seized smuggled agricultural commodities worth ₱2.83 billion in 2024, nearly a billion more than the previous year’s total.
Over the 12-month period, the DAIE conducted a total of 71 operations. This surpassed its 2023 seizures, which totaled an estimated ₱1.87 billion.
In a statement on Friday, March 14, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said last year’s operations revealed existing regulatory loopholes that must be addressed.
He added that certain procedures must be streamlined to curb the smuggling of agricultural products.
With the passage of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act in September of last year, Laurel said this provides the DA with the necessary tools to combat smuggling.
Smuggling, he said, undermines the livelihood of farmers and even threatens public health.
Under the law, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, cartel operations, and other crimes involving agricultural and fishery products are classified as economic sabotage.
Violators will face a fine of up to five times the value of the products involved in the crime and a penalty of life imprisonment.
Laurel emphasized that he is committed to enhancing the capabilities of the DAIE to strengthen its campaign against unscrupulous importers and traders.
The DAIE’s largest seizure last year amounted to ₱1.9 billion worth of smuggled imported rice. This was followed by fisheries products with seizures worth ₱316.4 million.
So far, it has filed 57 complaints against alleged culprits operating across Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, Manila, and Navotas.
Among its notable operations were conducted between Jan. 19 and June 5, during which the DA unit uncovered thousands of tons of undervalued imported rice.
The importer was found to have made multiple shipments over the five-month period, totaling 32,825 metric tons (MT) of rice—shipments that should have incurred ₱285.3 million in taxes and tariffs.
In the first two months of 2025, the DAIE and other agencies seized ₱162.7 million worth of illegal agri-fishery products from various entry points in the country.
Recent inspections of cold storage facilities also uncovered several violations, including expired agricultural products and unlabeled boxes.