A shipment expected to contain furniture was found concealing P50 million worth of cigarettes from China at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Friday, Feb. 19.
Boxes of cigarettes branded Marvels and Two Moon were uncovered from a shipment that arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Feb. 14.
The contents were declared as "furniture" and consigned to MRC 418 Direct Import Export Corp.
The bureau said it earlier received a derogatory information about the shipment. This led to the issuance of a pre-lodgement control order by District Collector John Simon of the Port of Cagayan de Oro.
Customs agents opened the shipment for 100 percent physical examination, after which they found the contraband.
A warrant of seizure and detention has been issued on the shipment, which will be scheduled for destruction.
Simon commended the port’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service for its continued vigilance in border protection.