BOC intercepts P121M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Subic

The Bureau of Customs has intercepted more than a hundred-million-peso worth of smuggled cigarettes at the Port of Subic.

In a statement on Saturday, the BOC said its operatives at the Subic port intercepted on August 22 4x40’ containers of cigarettes estimated to be worth P121 million in market value.

The Customs said the 4x40’ containers arrived at the Port of Subic last August 22 from China and Hong Kong and said to contain frozen cinnamon bread, frozen pineapple pocket bread, snake and ladder board games, dominos board games and rubber strips but were found to contain various cigarette brands.

Photo courtesy: BOC-Subic

According to District Collector Maritess Martin, this latest apprehension of the Port of Subic is the result of the continuous intelligence and investigative work of the port.

“Also, adopting and catching up to the modus operandi of unscrupulous stakeholders played a big role in this apprehension for this is the first time that the BOC has seized cigarettes concealed in a refrigerated container van,” Martin said.

It is a general knowledge that cigarettes cannot be stored in high moisture containers like reefer vans, yet the smugglers found their means on how to use this kind of transportation, she added.

A 100% physical examination is still being conducted by the assigned Customs Examiner to identify if there are other items concealed in the said shipments, according to the BOC.

The Port of Subic will be issuing Warrants of Seizure and Detention against the subject shipments and recommend to the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) the filing of appropriate criminal charges against the smugglers.

“This serves as a warning and reminder to all that BOC will not let up in its effort to protect the border,” Martin said.

Likewise, the BOC said the Port of Subic has so far collected P2,395,500,885 from August 1 to 27, exceeding by P344 million or 16.8% its assigned target of P2,051,000,000for the whole month of August.

Proceeds generated from the auction sale and the remaining three working days left to collect will surely give the port an additional collection and contribution for the BOC, according to Customs. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News