Intelligence agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized more than P90 million worth of cigarettes and sugar believed to have been smuggled into the country following an inspection on container vans at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Friday, Feb. 17.
Newly-installed BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio led the inspection, his first since he formally assumed the top post of the agency on Feb. 13, in an apparent strong message to the smugglers of more aggressive drive of the government's campaign against smuggling of various products.
Rubio said the containers, which arrived between Jan. 5 and Feb. 12, contained misdeclared and undeclared sugar and cigarettes with a total estimated value of P90,442,850.
BOC Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, who joined Rubio and MICP District Collector Arnoldo Famor in the inspection, said the BOChad been “actively monitoring” information about shipments that possibly contain smuggled goods in an intensified effort to curb the entry of contraband and illegal products into the country.
"We cannot stress it enough: it is unlawful to bring products into the Philippines without the proper permits. By now, these unscrupulous groups should understand the severity of our non-stop campaign against their illegal activities,” said Uy.
He said the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-MICP (CIIS-MICP) recommended the issuance of Alert Orders (AOs) after receiving derogatory information about the shipments—three of which were from Hong Kong, while two were from China.
Based on the BOC report, corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Section 1113 (Goods Liable for Seizure and Forfeiture) in relation to Section 117 (Regulated Goods) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, Sugar Regulatory Administration rules and regulations, and National Tabacco Administration rules and regulations.
Uy said the case records will be immediately referred to the Bureau's Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) for case build-up and filing of corresponding criminal cases against those responsible for the illegal importation of the subject agricultural and tobacco products for violation of Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of the CMTA, and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.