The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday seized smuggled white onions worth P998,700 from China in Cebu.
In a statement, BOC said 147 crates labeled "kimchi," totaling P183,750, were deemed abandoned after a month of arrival at the Port of Cebu.
It said that it issued an abandonment decree on the commodities, allowing inspection and auction teams to enter.
Following the conclusion of the abandonment action, an inventory was performed, which revealed 3,329 bags of unregistered white onions packed behind the boxes of kimchi.
The BOC stated that the inventory of the remaining containers is still proceeding.
The smuggled commodities will be disposed of in accordance with existing procedures, the Customs said.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. earlier ordered a probe into onion stockpiling, smuggling, and price fixing.
