-
Some P1.4 billion worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes have been confiscated by the Bureau of Customs in a warehouse in Indanan, Sulu
-
Seized were 18,533 master cases of assorted imported cigarettes
-
The BOC-Zamboanga district collector will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the seized cigarettes for possible violations of relevant laws and rules and regulations
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated P1.4 billion worth of cigarettes suspected to have been smuggled into the country and stored in a warehouse in Indanan, Sulu.
BOC said it immediately acted after receiving derogatory information on March 2 about the alleged smuggled cigarettes.
A team of BOC operatives assisted by Armed Forces troops inspected the warehouse and found 18,533 master cases of assorted imported cigarettes suspected to have been smuggled into the country.
The cigarettes bore the brands Bravo, New Far, BPBM, Billionaire, Cannon, Souvenir, Astro, Wilcon, New D’ Premier, B&E Ice, and Fort, BOC said in a statement.
“Our success in conducting our enforcement operations anywhere in the country is attributed to the streamlined procedures and coordination between all BOC offices, collection districts, and partner agencies,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
“We will continue to modernize our information-sharing systems and enforcement assets to ensure that we are a step ahead against unscrupulous importers,” he added.
BOC’s Intelligence Group was joined during the operation by troops from the Western Mindanao Command-Armed Forces of the Philippines; 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Philippine Air Force-Special Operations Wing, Joint Task Force-Sulu; Philippine Navy-Naval Special Operations Unit, and PN Naval Forces Mindanao.
The BOC-Zamboanga district collector will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the smuggled cigarettes for possible violations of Executive Order No. 245, or the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco Products; National Tobacco Administration Memorandum Circular No. 03, series of 2004; NTA Board Resolution No. 079-2005 in relation to Section 1113 and Section 117 in connection to Section 1401 of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
