BOC seizes P15-million cigarette shipment

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently confiscated P15 million worth of cigarettes just before they were allegedly about to be smuggled to Vietnam and Holland.

BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales said agents from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) reported that the shipment was placed inside two 20-footer container vans and misdeclared as 490 pieces of furniture and decoration and 450 cases of assorted grocery items.

Last December, the BOC-CIIS received a tip that the cigarettes were about to be loaded on board the Bermudian Express.

Yesterday, they opened the two container vans at the Manila International Container Port and representatives of Philip Morris International, makers of Marlboro cigarettes, witnessed the ceremony. They reportedly found 500,000 packs of Philippine-made Marlboro cigarettes labeled “for domestic sale only, not for export.”

Under the law, exporters of tobacco products are required to get clearance from the National Tobacco Authority, which does not issue clearances for cigarettes marked for domestic sale.

The shipment was reportedly consigned to Grand Comtrade International Corp., but Grand Comtrade owner Antonio See wrote to CIIS last Dec. 9 denying any involvement in the shipment.

Customs Intelligence chief Dino Tuason said while See denied having any involvement in the smuggling attempt, they would still pursue the investigation.

The cigarettes will be up for public auction after forfeiture proceedings, the BOC said. – Evelyn Macairan