SMUGGLED cigarettes (Photo via Liza Jocson)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga destroyed more than 5,000 cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P266 million in a waste management facility here on Tuesday, April 7.
The condemned items consisted of 5,069 master cases, 2,620 reams, and 32 packs of assorted smuggled cigarettes confiscated during anti-smuggling operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula and ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi Tawi) regions.
These were shredded in accordance with an official Order of Condemnation pursuant to provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act 12022, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
Zamboanga Port District Collector Elenita Abaño thanked partner-agencies for their support and cooperation.
The activity was witnessed by key officials, partner-agencies, and stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability in the disposal process.