Hundreds of master cases of seized cigarettes worth P30 million have been destroyed in Cagayan de Oro City, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Through shredding, a total of 977 master cases of cigarettes containing 48,850 reams were destroyed in Digama Warehouse and Destruction Facility in Barangay Bayabas, Cagayan de Oro, on Sept. 8.
Port of Cagayan de Oro District Collector Elvira Cruz said the shipment was consigned to a certain Lorna Oftana from General Santos City. It was seized due to misdeclaration.
The shipment was "apprehended based on the received derogatory information from national intelligence agencies," Cruz said.
It was only declared as personal effects upon arrival at the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental last May 20, 2021.
A case for violation of RA 10863 otherwise known as Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Section 1400 (Misdeclaration) was already filed against the consignee.
Cruz said they will continue "to protect the borders from illegal shipments including illicit cigarettes which disrupts the tobacco industry and prevents the collection of lawful revenues."