MALACAÑANG has declared a total war against smugglers of rice and other commodities as unscrupulous importers and brokers continue to defy the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) appeal to shape up during the first six months of the Duterte administration.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, head of the inter-agency task force against smuggling, announced on Wednesday that from hereon the BOC and other concerned government agencies would go hard and run without let-up after companies and personalities who continue to defy the law to avoid payment of correct duties and taxes.