The Department of Agriculture (DA) discovered at least 714 boxes of smuggled frozen fish products at a cold storage facility in Navotas City on Friday, May 26.
The P1.4 million worth of illegal items were discovered by the DA officers during the check of ICY Point Cold Storage and Processing Corp.’s plant on Lapu-Lapu Avenue.
Before the inspection, the officers from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group backed up the DA officers in launching an entrapment operation at the plant in response to indications that smugglers were selling imported fish products that included pampano.
Moreover, the suspects recognized as Alma Aden, 47; Cheryl Elizalde, 38; and Tito Monares Jr., 22, were detained after they were detected selling imported fish without the DA's or the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' certifications or documentation.
They were apprehended after receiving P3,000 in marked money from an undercover operative.
The individuals were arrested on suspicion of agricultural smuggling and violating Republic Act 7394, the Consumer Act.
Meanwhile, the seafood products were kept at the storage facility while officials checked with the owner to see if the goods were covered by the proper legal documentation.
