ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) destroyed Monday some PHP17.3 million worth of smuggled imported cigarettes confiscated in this southern port city.
Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr., BOC-Zamboanga district collector, led the destruction of the seized cigarettes held shortly after Monday’s flag ceremony at the local port.
Barte said the smuggled imported cigarettes were seized over the weekend by troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-11 (MBLT-11) in Barangay Arena Blanco, this city.
The confiscated contraband consisted of 575 master cases of imported cigarettes. Each master case is worth PHP30,000 or for a total of PHP17.3 million.
Barte said the shipment of smuggled cigarettes was intercepted after the MBLT-11 troops received information that cargoes were being unloaded in a finger wharf, which is just a few meters away from the barangay hall of Arena Blanco.
Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), MBLT-11 assisted the BOC personnel in the destruction of the confiscated cigarettes. Each of the cartons of cigarettes was sliced with blades and torn apart. The cigarettes were destroyed in full public view.
“It is very costly to rent a payloader to destroy the confiscated cigarettes,” Barte added.
He said the destruction of the seized cigarettes will serve as a warning to smugglers to stop their illegal activities. (PNA)
