On Friday, the National Bureau of Investigation uncovered a stash of smuggled frozen products valued at multi-million pesos in a cold storage facility located in Marilao, Bulacan.
Armed with a search warrant issued by the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC), operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided the CS Cold Storage & Processing Plant Corporation located at 3M Compound, Sta. Rosa II, Marilao, Bulacan.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago led the inspection of the warehouse, where operatives encountered smuggled products, including beef, chicken, and various agricultural items.
In addition to boxes of rotten onions and garlic, the NBI and the Department of Agriculture's National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) also discovered pigeon meat, frozen bullfrogs, seafood, and boxes of French fries.
All of the aforementioned products were reportedly smuggled from China. According to the NBI's initial assessment, the seized smuggled goods are valued at approximately P200 million.
According to NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Jeremy Lotoc, based on the receipts they recovered, the estimated unpaid taxes from the raided cold storage warehouse amount to no less than P120 million, covering the years from 2021 to the present.
No individuals were arrested during the raid on the large warehouse by authorities.
The warehouse was located after authorities accessed a secret group on social media where the smuggled goods were being offered for sale.
“Product iyan ng ating cyber patrolling. Nakita natin na nagbebenta sila ng french fries. From then, inumpisahan na natin ang surveillance,” Santiago said during an exclusive interview with DZRH for Balansyado.
“Nakita ng ating mga nag surveillance na hindi lamang french fries ang nandoon sa cold storage. Kundi mga karne, baka, baboy, mga shrimp at iba ibang product na hindi dumaan sa inspection,” he added.
The NBI will file agricultural smuggling charges against two identified Filipino incorporators and a foreign national alleged to be the owner of the cold storage facility.
