BOC destroys smuggled cigarette-making machines

Photo: Bureau of Customs

The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) on Monday destroyed several smuggled cigarette-making machines at the Port of Clark.

In a statement, the BOC said it used a backhoe to crush seven cigarette-making machines, one plastic recycling machine, one manual lifter, one generator set, and one generator cooling system that were seized last February 19.

Other items to be destroyed are two sets of cigarette manufacturing machines, one semi-automatic strapping machine, plastic shredding facility, 145 cigarette master cases, packaging materials, and tax stamps nabbed last March 5.

The said items were forfeited by the BOC for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Intellectual Property Rights Law, and other regulations.

The destruction of the contraband was attended by BOC officials and representatives from the Ports Operations Service, the National Tobacco Corporation, the Commission on Audit, Japan Tobacco Inc., and Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News