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BOC finds P30-M smuggled cigarettes in footwear boxes

Philippines | National

BOC finds P30-M smuggled cigarettes in footwear boxes

By Betheena Unite

Some P30 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from China have been uncovered by Bureau of Customs (BOC) agents from boxes of footwear, the agency bared on Tuesday, May 25.

UNCOVERED-- A shipment of smuggled cigarettes worth P30 million from China was intercepted at the Mindanao Container Terminal Port on May 21, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the BOC)

The contraband was discovered during an inspection initiated by customs agents from the Port of Cagayan De Oro on May 21. It was disclosed that the shipment, which came from China, arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental the previous day.

The cigarettes bearing the brand "Goldenleaf" were stuffed inside boxes of footwear. They had been declared as "personal effects".

The items were consigned to a certain Lorna Oftana of General Santos City.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) - CDO Field Station Chief IO1 Oliver Valiente said that they received a tip from national intelligence agencies prior to the discovery of the smuggled items.

This prompted District Collector John Simon to issue an alert order to prevent the particular shipment from leaving the port.

A warrant of seizure and detention has been issued against the shipment pending investigation for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Simon said they will continue to intensify their watch over the borders down south, where an estimated P110 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were intercepted last year.

Related Tags

Bureau of Customs BOC Smuggled cigarettes PORT OF CAGAYAN DE ORO Mindanao Container Terminal Port china

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