The Bureau of Customs (BOC) successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle P791 million worth of illicit cigarettes from Singapore over the weekend. Intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) under its new District Collector Carmelita Talusan, and upon the directive of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido R. Rubio to closely monitor all importations especially tobacco products, the recent catch of illicitly imported cigarettes should send a strong message against ill-minded traders that BOC is really serious in its anti-smuggling campaign.
The shipment, consigned to Burias Jang Consumer Goods Trading, was initially declared to contain cases of tobacco products, but "derogatory information" received by the BOC's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) led to suspicion that it also contained illicit cigarettes and other misdeclared and undeclared items.
Upon receiving the report from the CIIS-MICP Field Station on May 2, 2024, an Alert Order was promptly initiated by Talusan, followed by her issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD).
On May 13, the shipment underwent a spot-check examination at the MICP's Designated Examination Area (DEA). The CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) witnessed the examination.
The examination showed that each of the three containers had an estimated 1,756 master cases of varying brands of cigarettes namely Golden, Bind, Double Happiness, and H&P One and heat sticks of brands COO and Like Premium Bluberry.
The value of the products found in all three containers with 4,215 mastercases of assorted cigarettes and 1,053 mastercases of heat sticks was pegged at P791 million.
Photo Courtesy: Philippine News Agency
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