BOC seizes P1.2M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Joint Task Force Zamboanga on Wednesday seized P1.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes inside three passenger vessels at the Zamboanga Port.

At least 2,125 reams of smuggled cigarettes were found and confiscated from MV Mama Mia, MV Mary Joy 1 and MV Asian Stars vessels from Jolo, Sulu, according to the BOC.

Zamboanga District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte expressed concerns over the widespread entry of these smuggled cigarettes at the Port of Zamboanga.

He vowed that they will continue their efforts to stop the illegal activity.

The confiscated smuggled cigarettes were already turned over to the BOC for the issuance of Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) for violation of Executive Order No. 245, the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco Products and Section 117 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

“It may be recalled that from April to June, this year, over P60 Million worth of smuggled cigarettes were successfully confiscated by BOC officers and operatives of this port,” the BOC said in a statement.

The seized articles will now be subject to immediate destruction, the bureau added. — Joviland Rita/MDM, GMA News