The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Sunday intercepted smuggled fresh carrots worth P7 million hidden behind cartons of noodles inside four shipping containers at the Port of Manila, BusinessWorld reported.
The discovery was made during a joint inspection by the BoC, the DA’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Office, and the Bureau of Plant Industry. The carrots were concealed in a shipment declared as noodles, prompting authorities to flag the containers for further examination.
The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by Philippine regulators to curb agricultural smuggling, which undermines local farmers and deprives the government of tariff revenues. The DA has vowed to intensify inspections at major ports to prevent similar incidents.