MANILA, Aug. 30 (PNA) — Some P4.7 million was generated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from the auction of an estimated 676,350 kilograms of smuggled garlic seized in June 2014.
In a statement, the BOC said that six bidders participated in the auction on Friday, August 29 held at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) through sealed bidding.
The shipments that were sold include four units of 40-foot shipping containers imported by Sofrich Trading with 104,670 kilos of garlic, sold for Php2.592 million, or about P24.76 per kilo to KKRL Trading.
Also included in the auction were two units of 40-foot shipping containers with 55,850 kilos of garlic consigned to Yan Hu Food Manufacturing, won by bidder Kaunlaran for Php1.386-million, or P24.82 per kilo.
The last lot sold, one 40-foot shipping container with 28,960 kilos consigned to CMA CGM Philippines, was sold to a certain Nilo Peñaflor for P728,000 or P25.14 per kilo.
The winning bidders paid 50 percent of their respective bid prices, with the balance to be paid on the next business day. They have two days to move their garlic out of MICP.
The winning bidders are also required to have the garlic fumigated by a service provider duly accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). (PNA)