Nearly 100,000 sacks of red onions were discovered inside a Valenzuela City warehouse as authorities intensified their crackdown on suspected agricultural smuggling ahead of the Christmas season. The Bureau of Customs (BOC), working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other government agencies, reported approximately ₱524.27 million worth of agricultural products and other goods covered by the seizure.
A physical inventory identified 99,289 sacks of red onions valued at ₱372.3 million, making them the largest portion of the confiscated goods. Authorities also found more than 20,000 sacks of beans and legumes, alongside thousands of boxes of ginger and carrots, at the warehouse in Barangay Dalandanan.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said discrepancies between the warehouse inventory and submitted import documents raised concerns over possible illegal importation. The BOC issued a warrant of seizure and detention, while authorities continued examining the origin and documentation of the agricultural products.
Those responsible could face charges under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act if investigators establish violations. Warehouse operators have been given an opportunity to submit documents supporting the legality of the goods, while authorities continue investigating the case. Despite the massive onion stockpile, whether the products were deliberately being hoarded for the holiday season has not been established.