Philippines confiscates 340,000 USD worth of smuggled rice from Thailand

Philippine authorities have seized 15-million-Pesos (340,900 U.S. dollars) worth of illegally imported rice from Thailand, a senior government official said Wednesday.

Francis Pangilinan, presidential assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, said that the state-run National Food Authority (NFA) confiscated approximately 5,000 bags or close to 250,000 kilograms of rice stored in a warehouse owned by a certain businessman.

According to initial information from the National Bureau of Investigation, he said the rice was imported from Thailand, then brought in through Zamboanga in southern Philippines before being taken to Manila.

He said the trader and warehouse owner will face sanctions, as the warehouse is not licensed with the NFA.

Rice is a regulated commodity, and so also requires a license to be imported.

"If smuggling is rampant, then prices of rice and palay will fall, harming local farmers," Pangilinan said. Endi