STRONGER COLLABORATION. Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (3rd from left) meets with executives of Philip Morris International and Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. on Thursday (July 27, 2023) to discuss strategies to combat illegal tobacco trading activities in the country. The Bureau of Customs said stronger collaboration and information-sharing are necessary to curb aggressive schemes of illegal traders. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Customs)
MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday underscored the significance of boosting close cooperation with tobacco companies to combat illegal trading activities in the country.
In a statement, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said information-sharing is also important as illegal traders resort to aggressive schemes.
"These groups have been very creative and aggressive in entering our markets. Accordingly, close cooperation with tobacco companies is aimed at addressing their various modus (operandi) with even more comprehensive methods," he said.
The BOC met with executives of Philip Morris International (PMI) and Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) on Thursday.
Rubio said they will work together to ensure public health safety and fair tobacco trade.
"That has always been our goal and our mandate —to put these smugglers away and make them accountable, answerable, and ultimately face the consequences of their nefarious activities," he added.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso also recognized the urgency to improve customs mechanisms and identify gaps in BOC's strategies.
“It is important for us to recognize that these (schemes) are not only very real threats but well-orchestrated plans aimed at circumventing our laws," he said.
Earlier, the BOC seized around PHP1.43 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes in Indanan, Sulu as it intensified anti-illicit tobacco trade operations.
Besides illegal tobacco trade, the BOC also vowed to ramp up efforts to prevent agricultural smuggling in the country in line with the order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA)
