MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday said it sought to file an economic sabotage case and other legal actions against individuals behind the P202 million worth of misdeclared frozen mackerel shipment earlier this week.

It can be recalled that the 19 40-foot container vans carrying the mackerel products were seized earlier this month. They were found to have been misdeclared as frozen fried taro sticks, cuttle fish flavored balls, and taro sweet potato balls.

BOC said warrants of seizure and detention have already been issued against the shipments.

“The BOC is coordinating with the Department of Finance (DOF) for the filing of criminal cases for violation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, pursuant to Section 20 of the said law,” the statement read.

“This [law] classifies large-scale agricultural smuggling as a heinous crime, punishable by life imprisonment and substantial fines,” BOC said.

Misdeclaring and illegally importing agricultural products like frozen mackerel, the agency said, “undermine the nation’s food security and economic stability, and those responsible will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”

The BOC earlier said these containers originated from China and were put on hold on January 20 after they got a request for an intrusive and non-intrusive examination from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.

This happened after the same request from the Plant Quarantine Service-Bureau of Plant Industry (PQS-BPI) “due to pending compliance with PQS requirements.”

Mahigit P178-M halaga ng frozen mackerel o isdang alumahan ipinamahagi sa 150,000 pamilya