BOC seizes ₱39M smuggled cigarettes, tobacco in Manila-bound containers

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday seized more than P39 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and dried tobacco in six containers bound for Manila.

In a statement, the BOC said it acted on intelligence operations and moved to intercept the containers, which came from Zamboanga and Bacolod.

Authorities conducted a 100% physical examination of the shipments at the Sub-Port of North Harbor in Manila and found several cigarette brands and hundreds of sacks of dried tobacco concealed in the containers.

The smuggled cigarettes and dried tobacco – worth P39.3 million – were falsely declared as dried fish and general merchandise.

The contraband lacked Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps, graphic health warnings, and proper markings.

The BOC issued Warrants of Seizure and Detention (WSDs) on the confiscated items for violation of the Graphic Health Warnings Law, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). — JMA, GMA Integrated News