Customs seizes P10.8M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga

The Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga intercepted smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P10.8 million off the coast of Zamboanga del Sur on Friday.

In a statement on Monday, Customs said through a maritime patrol off Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur, the anti-smuggling team seized one motorized boat owned by a certain personality from Pangdan, Kaluwa Sulu. The boat was loaded with t300 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes.

The shipment was allegedly for delivery to a certain “ASUL” in Pagadian City.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the Enforcement and Security Service, together with operatives from Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and representatives from Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Inc. conducted the operation following information from a concerned citizen on alleged smuggled cigarettes on board the fishing boat bound for Pagadian.

Acting District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. said this is the first seizure of this bulk coming from a transhipment aboard a wooden motorized banca in Pagadian.

Barte issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment for lack of permit from the National Tobacco Administration and for violation of Executive Order No. 245 (Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products) and Section 117 of the Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).—AOL, GMA News