MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed six criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday against an importer, customs broker, Customs officials and other individuals over shipments allegedly misdeclared as “chicken lollipops” to conceal fresh onions and carrots.

The shipments, consigned to Berches Consumer Goods Trading and which arrived in June 2025, were found during physical examinations to contain 15,029 sacks of fresh white onions and 2,164 boxes of fresh carrots.

The agricultural products were not covered by the required Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from the Bureau of Plant Industry, according to the BOC.

The complaints allege violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), particularly Section 1401 in relation to Sections 1400 and 117, over the alleged fraudulent misdeclaration and importation of regulated agricultural products without the required clearances.

The complaints against Customs officials and personnel also cite Section 1431 (c), (e) and (f) of the CMTA, which covers willful neglect of duties, acts or omissions intended to facilitate fraud against the government, and allowing another person to violate the law.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service has separately endorsed administrative charges against the concerned BOC personnel to the Prosecution and Litigation Division for hearings under the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the agency would pursue both smugglers and Customs personnel allegedly involved in illegal activities.

“Wala tayong pagtatakpan at hindi natin kukunsintihin ang anumang paglabag, lalo na kung may pagtatangkang abusuhin ang ating mga proseso. Importer man, broker, o kawani ng Customs, kung may sapat na ebidensya, gagawin natin ang nararapat at ihaharap ang kaso sa tamang proseso. Ang pananagutan ay para sa lahat,” Nepomuceno said.

The commissioner made the statement following a recent National Bureau of Investigation operation in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, which reportedly implicated Customs personnel in the alleged smuggling of imported chicken meat.

With the latest filings, the BOC said it has filed 96 criminal cases involving 288 respondents.

The bureau also reported ₱13.7 billion worth of seizures from 2025 through 2026 as part of its enforcement efforts against smuggling and misdeclared goods.