April 23, 2008

Philippine authorities seize PHP200 million worth poultry and seafood

The Philippine anti-smuggling group reported that it has confiscated PHP200 million (US$4.8 million) worth of smuggled seafood and poultry products from a warehouse in Metro Manila.

Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) chief undersecretary Antonio Villar, Jr. said the products have not been quarantined nor inspected for possible infectious bacteria.

Villar said the goods were imported by a private Philippine company from China and Singapore.

Guillermo Francia, PASG director for intelligence, said the Department of Agriculture has banned fowls coming from identified bird flu-infected areas such as China and Singapore since 2006.

Villar recommends that authorities in Customs conduct a 100-percent examination of containers.

The owners of the shipment, Willy and Margaret Lu of Solid Sea Products, face charges of economic sabotage, Villar added.