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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Smugglers of fake cigarettes shift to manufacturing

Smugglers of fake cigarettes shift to manufacturing

Published Oct 1, 2020 12:43 pm

ZAMBOANGA CITY -Smugglers of imported cigarettes in Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen)  or Region 9  have gradually shifted their operations to manufacturing fake cigarettes utilizing imported tobacco products and cigarette-making machines.

PHOTO VIA NONOY LACSON/ MANILA BULLETIN

Zamboanga City  Customs District Collector Segundo Z. Barte Jr. on Thursday revealed they have already seized about P1.5 billion worth of fake cigarettes "during the pandemic months alone.”

He said smugglers are buying their tobacco products and materials from Sandakan, Malaysia and Sabah including fake revenue stamps, cigarettes brand labels, cigarette pack plastic wrappers, menthol filters, and cigarettes reams.

Barte also revealed that smugglers are importing their cigarette-making machines from Malaysia and China.

He added that they are now closely monitoring some areas in ZamPen where fake cigarette manufacturing has been reported. He declined to name these areas.

The use of fake cigarettes by smokers is dangerous to their health and also deprives the government of revenues.

”The government is losing much in revenue collection  from these smugglers of fake cigarettes,” Barte said.

Last  month, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B Guerrero ordered Barte to destroy about 5,350 master cases of smuggled cigarettes and cigarette materials with an estimated market value of  P1.3 billion.

Among the brands of cigarettes destroyed  were Cannon, Astro, Union, Berlin, Far Star, Modern, and Premier.

He also asked Barte to turn over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in this city all seized fake revenue stamps for their immediate evaluation and proper disposition.

At present, the price of imported cigarettes sold per pack at public markets in this city  has increased by about 300 percent from the previous retail selling price of P20 per pack.

Barte also thanked the Zamboanga Peninsula Inter-Agency on Anti-Smuggling (ZPIAonAS) for its untiring support to the BOC in this city.

ZPIAonAS is composed of the Bureau of Customs, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-9), the Police Regional Office in Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9), the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR-9). 

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