BOC: Syndicate behind P2.5B alleged smuggled cigarettes in Batangas, Malabon

A large syndicate was behind the alleged smuggling of cigarettes worth around P2.5 billion recently seized in Batangas and Malabon, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Tuesday.

Atty. Chris Bendijo, Office of Commissioner deputy chief of staff, said these illegal activities are under close monitoring by the authorities.

“Napakalaking sindikato po nito. Binabantayan po ito ng BOC. Sa kasalukuyan, I cannot disclose pa po 'yung merits dahil meron pa po tayong ongoing investigation dito,” Bendijo told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(This is a huge syndicate. The BOC is monitoring it. At present, I cannot disclose the merits because we still have an ongoing investigation here.)

Bendijo said the case is expected to fall under the newly enacted Anti-Economic Sabotage Law, which carries stiffer penalties for those involved in large-scale smuggling and other economic crimes.

“Mabuti naman po nandyan na po 'yung ating bagong batas, 'yung Anti-Economic Sabotage Law. Ito po ay talagang papasok doon. At talagang mabigat po 'yung penalties dito,” he said.

(It's good that our new law is already there, the Anti-Economic Sabotage Law. This is really going to be included there. And the penalties here are really heavy.)

He added that liability will not be limited to the masterminds but all individuals who played a role in the illegal activity.

“Pati po 'yung driver, warehouse, pati 'yung broker kung meron man tayong makikita dito ay paparusahan sa ilalim ng batas na ito,” Bendijo said.

(Even the driver, warehouse, and broker, if we find anything here, will be punished under this law.)

The investigation is ongoing and further details will not be disclosed for now, according to Bendijo.

On January 1, the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) reported that a total of P2.5 billion worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes were seized in two separate operations in Malabon and in Batangas. —AOL, GMA Integrated News