BOC: Illicit cigarettes worth P17 million seized in Davao
Smuggled cigarettes with a total value of P17.7 million were seized by the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Davao.
During an inspection, the BOC, along with Task Force Davao, yielded 15,150 reams of cigarettes, 35 sacks of assorted shoes, and one unit of truck.
The BOC-Davao is set to file the necessary charges against the suspects for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Maita S. Acevedo, BOC-Davao acting district collector, said they will remain committed to combating smuggling and safeguarding the country’s border.
“The Bureau of Customs will continue to uphold the rule of law and prioritize protecting the Filipino people from the harmful effects of illicit tobacco products," BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said.
"We are committed in taking decisive action against those threatening our nation's security and economy,” he added.
Collections from illicit trade will aid in boosting Customs’ target revenue by at least P1 trillion, representing around 23 percent of the total P4.3 trillion goal set by the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee this year.
Rubio said that the bureau's strategy to increase collections by 15 to 20 percent for 2024 is being done on several fronts, including vigilant monitoring and continuous improvement of modernization projects.
Based on preliminary reports, the BOC has so far collected P330.27 billion, exceeding its target of P317.87 billion by 3.90 percent, or P12.41 billion.
This figure represents a 7 percent increase from the same period last year when collection was at P308.65 billion and is also now 33 percent of the P1 trillion target for the year.
On the other hand, Rubio said that 132 apprehensions were conducted in the first quarter through its enhanced border protection program, resulting in seizures worth P28.02 billion.
Meanwhile, under the fuel marking program, 7.01 billion liters of fuel were marked for the current calendar year, and fuel worth P908.52 billion was marked from 2019 to May 9.