BIG-TIME ONION SMUGGLER ARRESTED IN BATANGAS — DA

AN alleged big-time onion smuggler was arrested in Batangas, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday said.

Nabbed was Jayson de Roxas Taculog.

He was allegedly responsible for the illegal trade of 30 containers of onions.

Taculog is facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10845 or An Act Declaring Large-Scale Agricultural Smuggling As Economic Sabotage.

“Taculog’s arrest is just the beginning. With help from the police, the courts, and local government units, the Department of Agriculture will continue to run after smugglers and economic saboteurs,” DA Secretary FranciscoTiu Laurel said in a statement.

The suspect was nabbed based on a warrant of arrest issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Presiding Judge Edilu Hayag.

No bail was recommended

Taculog was detained for using shipping documents or import permits that were forged, fictitious, or fraudulent.

The suspect was accused of misclassifying, undervaluing, or making false declarations on import entry and revenue declaration forms filed to the Bureau of Customs aside from avoiding paying taxes and duties.

He was also accused of acting as the broker for a violating importer.

The DA said if found guilty, Taculog faces the possibility of life imprisonment and might be fined twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural products and the aggregate amount of taxes, duties, and other charges he avoided paying.