P3.5-B worth of alleged China-made smuggled cigarettes seized in Cebu

Authorities seized 36 container vans loaded with alleged smuggled cigarettes worth an estimated P3.5 billion during an operation at a private port in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Saturday.

In a report by John Consulta on "24 Oras Weekend," the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) Special Action Unit (SAU) said the shipment was confiscated during a two-week follow-up operation following the interception of 23 container vans carrying allegedly smuggled cigarettes at the Port of Manila in June.

“Malaking halaga 'yan, hindi bababa sa tatlong bilyon. Ito ay galing sa, manufactured ito sa China at ito ay nahuli sa iba't ibang bahagi ng City ng Mandaue,” Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.

(That is a massive amount—not less than three billion pesos. These were manufactured in China and seized in various parts of Mandaue City.)

The NBI said the 36 container vans found in Cebu were believed to be intended for distribution across the Visayas and Mindanao, while the 23 containers seized in June were reportedly bound for Luzon.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) estimated that the attempted smuggling could have deprived the government of about P10 billion in excise tax revenues alone.

“Ating hahabulin, at 'yung may kinalaman dito ay we have a follow-up operation,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said.

(We will pursue those responsible. We are conducting follow-up operations.)

Matibag said those involved could face charges under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act (Republic Act No. 12022), the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act No. 10863), and the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8424).

According to the NBI, the shipments were misdeclared as consumer goods, including food items and clothing.

The BOC chief said it has already identified the consignee of the shipment and determined how the cargo entered the country.

“Sa malayong-malayong bahagi ng ating karagatan, merong malaking barko na galing sa labas at ito ay tinransfer sa mas maliit na barko at ginawang local shipment. Kaya't ito ay hindi dumaan sa ating international port,” Nepomuceno said.

(Far out at sea, a large foreign vessel transferred the cargo to a smaller vessel and disguised it as a local shipment. That allowed it to bypass the country's international ports.)

Nepomuceno said the BOC has since tightened security measures at international ports as authorities continue investigating the smuggling operation.— Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/MCG, GMA News