MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) destroyed more than P200 million worth of smuggled meat at a storage and disposal facility in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, on Saturday.
The frozen goods were confiscated during a raid at a cold storage facility in Marilao, Bulacan, on September 27, after an NBI cyber investigation revealed that the company was selling meat online.
This contradicted the company’s stated purpose of operating solely as an ice plant, leading the NBI to issue a subpoena demanding an explanation regarding their unauthorized importation of goods, as stated by NBI Director Jaime Santiago.
“Pa-filean ng kaso kung hindi maganda ang paliwanag nila,” Santiago warned.
(We will file a case against them if their explanation is unsatisfactory)
Deemed unsafe for human consumption, the meat was destroyed through thermal decomposition to ensure it wouldn’t end up in the market.
“Kailangan daw talaga sirain at ‘yun ang order natin from the court.
Delikado ipakain. Sabi ko nga i-donate sa zoo pero delikado raw.
Itapon sa dagat, makain ng mga isda, delikado rin,” Santiago explained.
(We really need to dispose of them because the court also ordered it.
It’s unsafe to eat. I suggested donating it to a zoo, but they said it was too risky.
If fed to fish in the sea, it could also be dangerous.)
At least seven more trucks carrying confiscated meat from Marilao will be sent for destruction.
The entire process is expected to take five days.
The NBI warned companies engaged in illegal importation that they are ramping up efforts, especially with the expected increase in frozen products during the upcoming “ber” months.
Santiago also pointed out that under the newly signed Anti-Agri Economic Sabotage Law, violators could face life imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the illegal goods.
“‘Wag na nilang ipagpatuloy ‘yung ganitong negosyo at hindi namin titigilan ang aming cyber patrolling, mahuhuli’t mahuhuli namin sila at lalo ngayon meron na tayong bagong batas na life imprisonment plus a fine times 5 of the value,” Santiago reiterated.
(Do not pursue this business because we will not stop our cyber patrolling. We will catch them, especially with the new law that mandates life imprisonment and a fine five times the value of the crime.)