The Bureau of Customs (BOC), the government’s second largest tax agency, vowed relentless crackdown on illicit cigarettes after it condemned about P1.4 billion worth of smuggled tobacco products in Zamboanga.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said the bureau will continue to implement intensified anti-smuggling operations along with filing of appropriate criminal charges against unscrupulous individuals.

Last April 28, Customs Zamboanga destroyed a total of 19,419 cases and 667 reams of smuggled cigarettes, with an estimated value of over P1.4 billion.

According to Customs, it was the largest condemnation of seized cigarettes in the Port of Zamboanga.

The cigarettes were apprehended during various anti-smuggling operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi in the first quarter of this year.

“The Customs persistently exerts effort to curb smuggling in all forms. Condemnations and destruction of these smuggled items, along with filing of appropriate criminal charges, will continue to deter the citizenry from committing criminal acts of smuggling,” Rubio said.

He also assured that Customs has remained steadfast in maintaining close coordination and collaboration with law enforcement agencies in running after smugglers.

The condemnation of seized goods is consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s standing order to implement anti-smuggling and border control measures in the country.

The cigarettes were drenched in water and repeatedly crushed by payloader equipment in the presence of all partner agencies and stakeholders.

The condemned cigarettes will be transported and disposed of in the sanitary landfill.

Earlier, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported sin tax revenues contracted last year after levies collected from alcohol and tobacco products fell short of hitting the target.

The BIR collected P261.64 billion in excise tax from “sin products” in January to December, down two percent compared with P266.61 billion in 2021.

The full-year sin tax revenue was also below by 16 percent against the P313.2 billion goal for 2022.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. had estimated that the government was losing P50 billion to P100 billion in tax revenues from the illicit tobacco trade.