SS1 Authorities inspect the illicit items found inside a warehouse.

P900M worth of smuggled cigarettes, other goods found in BOC inspection

May 29, 2023 People's Tonight 350 views

AN inspection of a warehouse in Plaridel, Bulacan by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday, May 26, 2023 yielded more or less P900 million worth of smuggled imported cigarettes and other general merchandise, including intellectual property rights (IPR) infringing goods.

A quick inventory of the goods currently ongoing showed that the illicit cigarettes found already amounted to P50 million.

The operation came after Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio issued a Letter of Authority (LOA) and Mission Order (MO), which were immediately implemented by agents from Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“The team inspected the warehouses and found to contain imported illicit cigarettes, and other imported general merchandise, housewares, kitchenwares, and IPR-infringing goods,” Rubio said.

He added that the approximate value of the goods found in the warehouses is more or less P900 million.

CIIS-MICP chief Alvin Enciso led the operation of the warehouses located in Plaridel, Bulacan.

“Our team showed the LOA to the warehouse representatives and they proceeded with the inspection after it was acknowledged,” he said, adding that the warehouses now have temporary padlocks and seals.

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy lauded the operation, saying this wouldn’t be possible without the proper coordination from respective government agencies.

“This operation shows what we can achieve with proper coordination between BOC and key government agencies,” he said.

“More than anything else, this shows what we’ve been saying all along, that the bureau will not stop its anti-smuggling drive against agricultural products and illicit cigarettes,” Uy added.

The owners of the goods would be asked to present importation documents or proof of payment by the Customs authorities.

If found without proper documents, the corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Sec. 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Sec. 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

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