Smuggled onions seized in surprise raid in Divisoria

Authorities seized several sacks of suspected smuggled onions following a raid on a warehouse in Manila’s Divisoria district early Friday. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported that operatives of the Bureau of Customs and representatives of Alyansang Agrikultura found the onions in the warehouse, after acting on a tip. The report said the warehouse’s caretakers could not present any permit or document to prove the onions were properly brought into the country. Customs authorities suspect the onions were brought in from China. It said the raid stemmed from complaints by farmers’ groups that the smuggling of onions had brought down the price of the commodity by as much as 30 percent. - RSJ, GMANews.TV