Various alleged smuggled items amounting to P15 million were recently uncovered by authorities from a warehouse in Manila.
Chinese-manufactured cigarettes, food items, medicines, liquors, mobile phones, cellphone accessories, and powerbanks were discovered in a storage facility in Paco, Manila last February 4.
The supposed "hot goods" were seized after a team from the Manila International Container Port's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement and Security Service, and the Philippine Coast Guard swooped down at the location. They carried a letter of authority signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.
Guerrero said further inventory and investigation are underway for the possible filing of charges in connection with section 1400 of Republic Act (RA)10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tarrif Act.
It was also disclosed that the seized cigarettes lacked permit from the National Tobacco Administration--a violation of Executive Order 245. It is also a violation of RA 8424, also known as the National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines.
No arrests were made during the inspection.