Instead of paper products, boxes of cigarettes amounting to P20.37 million was found in a shipment from China which was transported to the country through the Port of Manila, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Saturday, May 8.
Customs agents found the misdeclared cigarettes in a 40-footer container that arrived at the port on May 2.
It originated from China and was consigned to Micastar Consumer Goods Trading.
It was disclosed that prior to the discovery, the shipment was placed on hold over a suspicion that it contained misdeclared or prohibited items. An alert order was issued on May 4 and the 100 percent physical examination pushed through on May 6, revealing the real contents of the shipment.
District Collector Michael Angelo Vargas issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment for violation of Section 1400 “Misdeclaration, Misclassification, and Undervaluation in Goods Declaration” in relation to Section 1113 “Property Subject Seizure and Forfeiture” of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.