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San Fernando, Pampanga – Over 3,400 bags of smuggled white onions, valued at approximately P4.1 million, were officially presented to the media today, May 9, 2025, following their recovery and confiscation in an anti-smuggling operation led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban, Ph.D., and officials from the CIDG led the media briefing, revealing the alarming results of laboratory tests. The seized onions were positive for Salmonella and contained traces of heavy metals.

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The onions were originally intercepted on April 26, 2025, concealed inside two 40-foot container vans misdeclared as containing “chicken karaage strips” and consigned to Leksei B. Specialized Goods Trading. Upon inspection of the warehouse, authorities discovered the actual contents were white onions, many of which were labeled “TEXAS – Product of China.”

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On April 29, 2025, the BPI- National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD), Pampanga conducted a verification inspection, while the BPI-Plant Product Safety Services Division (PPSSD) conducted residue and microbial contamination analyses, confirming the presence of Salmonella and detectable levels of heavy metals.

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Secretary Tiu Laurel condemned the illegal importation, stating:

“There is a presence of Salmonella, which, if ingested in significant quantities, can be fatal. Even though the detected heavy metals are within tolerable limits, they still pose a health risk. This is a serious concern for food safety and public health.”

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The confiscated white onions remain in the custody of the CIDG and will be properly disposed of in accordance with food safety and quarantine protocols.

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This incident underscores the DA’s commitment to protecting the food supply and ensuring that only safe, legally imported agricultural products reach Filipino consumers. The DA reminds all stakeholders of the dangers posed by smuggling, both to public health and to the livelihood of local farmers.

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These confiscation efforts form part of the actions of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. in his intensified campaign against agricultural smuggling.

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(050925-11)