Customs seizes P10.6M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga City

Operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Port of Zamboanga have seized millions of pesos worth of smuggled cigarettes.

In a statement on Friday, the BOC said it intercepted 300 cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P10.6 million aboard MB Princess Amina, off the waters of Barangay Sinunuc, Zamboanga City.

The interception was done by the BOC-Port of Zamboanga, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services (CIIS), and Enforcement and Security Service-Customs Police Division (ESS-CPD), in coordination with Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) on April 15.

The BOC noted that a tip from an informant prompted the bureau to conduct an operation on the MB Princess Amina, which was departing from Jolo, Sulu, en route to Zamboanga City and was allegedly carrying more than 300 cases of smuggled cigarettes.

“The BOC’s anti-smuggling operation team composed of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service- Customs Police Division (ESS-CPD), in collaboration and unison with the Naval Intelligence and Security Group-Western Mindanao (NISG-WM) and Naval Forces Western Mindanao planned and executed a successful anti-smuggling operation on the said vessel,” the Customs said.

“This resulted in the seizure of more than 300 cases of undocumented cigarettes having an estimated value of P10.6 million, which was eventually turned over to the Bureau of Customs for verification of the volume and amount of the seized goods, and proper disposition under Customs laws,” it added.

The Customs said that a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) shall be issued for lack of permit from the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and violation of the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products pursuant to Executive Order No. 245, as well as violations of R.A 8424 known as National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines and Section 1401 of R.A 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.—AOL, GMA News