The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced Wednesday, Oct. 20, that it has seized and eventually destroyed six machines that were used to manufacture fake cigarettes in a ceremony held in Porac, Pampanga.
BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the operation was part of their efforts to stop the proliferation of smuggled and counterfeit items in the country.
The ceremonial destruction of the fake cigarette-making machines were held at the Greenleaf 88 Waste Disposal and Management Facility in Barangay Mitla last Oct. 13.
Also destroyed during the said activity were eight rolls of foil wrap, one roll of tipping paper, 15 rolls of white paper, 400 hundred rolls of plastic wrap, ten rolls of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. tape, and seven rolls of Mighty tape.
The six machines and other items were seized on Sept. 2, 2020 by virtue of the BOC-Port of Aparri Seizure Identification Order No. 004-2020 issued by District Collector Arienito Claveria.
The seizure order was issued for alleged violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco Products Series of 2005.