00:00The Department of Agriculture, Inspectorate and Enforcement and Bureau of Customs in Subic Port in Vietnam lost more than Php 30 million worth of smuggled sugar.
00:13According to the SRA, 10,000 sacks or 500 tons of smuggled sugar were placed in an alert order after the authorities misdeclared the shipment.
00:26Customs were shocked because even the sack said it was sugar.
00:33Then, they put a paper label saying it's glucose and something else.
00:38So, Customs was called for testing.
00:41Powdery white sweetener with 88% sugar and 12% glucose was declared by the smuggled sacks.
00:49But if you look at it, it doesn't look like it's different from regular sugar.
00:54According to the SRA, it can only be used by consignees for lower prices.
01:00Physically, if you just look at it, it's sugar.
01:03If you use it, you can readily mix it into your drink. It acts like sugar.
01:10If this will continue, it may affect the sale of sugar in the market.
01:17If there are things entering this way unnoticed, if we plan, we base our plans on our production and the sugar that we legally import,
01:27our plans will be ruined.
01:29It's like the supply that we're thinking of is different because someone is supplying a different route.
01:37It's also possible that it's being used for reselling for lower prices.
01:41The SRA is the consignee of the shipment.
01:44If it's proven that it's illegal to import sugar, it will be placed under auction.
01:49It is still being studied what cases may be faced by consumers if it's proven that sugar was smuggled and misdeclared
01:57and if it will be included in the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
02:01From People's Television Network, Vel Custodio, Balitang Pambansa.
