Two shipments of smuggled cigarettes found to have been imported by the same consignee, who attempted to smuggle P54-million cigarettes five days ago, were intercepted anew at the Port of Cebu Tuesday.
Instead of the declared items, which are umbrellas, tables, cabinets, and chairs, Customs agents discovered a total of 1,839 master cases of cigarettes worth P92 million in two shipments from China.
“Apparently, the modus operandi of the importer is blatant misdeclaration,” Enforcement and Security Service-Port of Cebu District Commander Jerry Arizabal said.
Arizabal said the first container yielded 900 master cases of “Jackpot” brand cigarettes while 939 master cases of “Farstar” cigarettes were uncovered in the second container. The shipments arrived at the port on August 19.
Both shipments were flagged during x-ray inspection due to the similar manner of declaration with the previously seized shipment.
It was later found out that the shipments were also consigned to GRR Trading.
On August 16, three days before the arrival of the two containers, a shipment consigned to the same importer arrived at the port and was confiscated after yielding 1,092 master cases of “Astro” cigarettes.
It was also declared to contain drawers, tables, cabinets, and lockers.
Warrants of seizure and detention were already issued against the shipments for violation of Section 1113 (f), (i), and (l) of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Port of Cebu Acting District Collector Charlito Martin Mendoza warned erring importers who violate and disregard the country’s customs laws that “not only will the bureau seize their shipments, but will also revoke their accreditation and file legal cases against them.”
The district collector attributed the apprehension of the smuggled items to the close monitoring of port agents coupled with x-ray inspection technology.
The bureau recently inaugurated its portal x-ray machine installed at the Cebu International Port, a boost to the port’s anti-smuggling drive.
(Photos from BOC)
