P20-M worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Davao

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it seized some P20-million worth of smuggled cigarettes in a joint buy-bust operation Davao del Sur last week.

The smuggled goods contained 690 master cases of cigarettes illegally shipped into the country and were seized last Thursday, March 24, in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.

The cigarettes were branded Absolute Blue, Champion, and EXXE, among others.

“BOC assures the public that it will remain vigilant in protecting the country’s borders against the entry of smuggled goods including cigarettes which disrupt the nation’s tobacco industry,” it said in an emailed statement.

The BOC is mandated to assess and collect customs revenues from imported goods and exercise border control to prevent the entry of smuggled goods.

The government earlier cracked down on smuggled cigarettes, with the BIR collecting a total of P2.086 trillion in 2021, 0.25% higher than its target of P2.081 trillion.

The past year’s collection was also 6.93% higher than the P1.951 trillion the agency collected in 2020.—AOL, GMA News