BIG HAUL. Smuggled cigarettes worth PHP24 million at the BOC-Port of Davao in this undated photo. The BOC on Wednesday (Feb. 7, 2024) said the contraband cigarettes were seized in a series of operations in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. (Photo courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – Customs authorities apprehended several individuals who yielded smuggled cigarettes worth PHP24 million in a series of operations in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.
In a statement Wednesday, Maita Acevedo, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Davao, said these include two operations in Sultan Kudarat and one in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato.
In Sultan Kudarat, authorities intercepted 14,000 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth PHP7 million, and a motorized banca marked as "MB Al-Amanah" in an operation on Jan. 6.
The operation on Dec. 3, 2023 resulted in the confiscation of 22,700 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP17.025 million and a motorized banca marked as “M/B Queen Johara”.
Meanwhile, the operation in Lake Sebu yielded 215 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP107,000.
Acevedo said the apprehended suspects have undergone inquest proceedings while the seized items are securely stored pending seizure and forfeiture proceedings.
The operations were conducted in collaboration with the Philippine Navy and Lake Sebu Municipal Police Station, 2nd Platoon, 1205th Mobile Company and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 12. (PNA)
