INTERCEPTED. A Bureau of Customs employee inspects on Wednesday afternoon (June 3, 2020) one of the boxes containing smuggled cigarettes from Vietnam worth PHP5.9 million seized at the Makar port in General Santos City. The contraband declared as paper board based on shipping documents was intercepted in coordination with the Interpol in Manila. (PNA photo by Richelyn Gubalani)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Bureau of Customs (BOC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents seized some PHP5.9 million worth of smuggled cigarettes that were shipped from Vietnam.
Elenita Abaño, the BOC port collector, said the contraband was found inside a container van unloaded by cargo vessel M/V Barry Trad, which arrived around 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Makar port here.
Abaño said the shipment contained around 1,325 cases or boxes of cigarettes marked with the “President” brand.
“This is the first for us to intercept this kind of brand,” Abaño said in an interview with reporters late Wednesday afternoon.
The official said they received prior information about the incoming shipment, which was loaded in a 40-footer container van marked with CMU-5502140, through the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol in Manila.
She said their personnel, along with agents from NBI-Sarangani District Office, subjected the container van to X-ray upon unloading and confirmed that it contained cigarettes.
Based on shipping documents obtained by BOC and NBI, the cargo supposedly contained paper boards based on its declaration. It was consigned to Bengur Trading, with the address only listed as this city.
Based on the initial inventory conducted by the BOC, every box has 25 reams of cigarettes, with each containing 20 packs.
It was reportedly sold in the city and the neighboring areas at PHP30 per pack.
Abaño said the investigation is ongoing as to the real identity of the owners of the smuggled cigarettes.
She said the owner will face charges for misdeclaration and related violations as provided for in Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
BOC has recommended the issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention for the recovered items. (PNA)
