SEIZED. A Coast Guard personnel files packs of cigarettes seized by their team in the port of Allen, Northern Samar in this Feb. 20, 2024 photo. Authorities have yet to disclose the value of undocumented cigarettes. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) intercepted on Tuesday at least 700 reams of undocumented cigarettes at the Santa Clara port in Allen, Northern Samar.
In an updated report sent to reporters Wednesday, the PCG said the personnel from the Coast Guard Intelligence Group and Coast Guard Working Dog Narcotics Detection Dogs in Eastern Visayas were conducting a routing inspection early Tuesday when they discovered the contraband onboard in a closed six-wheel aluminum van.
The van, driven by a certain Argie Labrador, 27, a resident of Pasig City, came from Zamboanga City and was for shipment to Oas, Albay, according to PCG.
“The PCG team requested the driver to open the boxes with his permission and found that they contained an undetermined number of cigarette packs with no pertinent documents,” the PCG Northern Samar said in a statement.
The contraband consisted of 400 reams of Black Hawk Platinum Cigarettes, 200 reams of Platinum Cigarettes, and 100 reams of Canon Menthol Cigarettes.
Authorities have yet to disclose the value of undocumented cigarettes. (PNA)
