BOC destroys P90 million smuggled cigarettes

CEBU, Philippines —  Counterfeit cigarettes worth P90 million were recently destroyed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu.

The cigarettes bearing “Mighty,” “Marvels” and “Fort” brands were seized by the bureau in September last year and eventually forfeited in June this year. These cigarettes, which were declared as table panels, cabinets and chairs, arrived at the Port of Cebu in two separate shipments from China on August 8 and 13, 2020.

Prior to the forfeiture, BOC-Cebu district collector Atty. Charlito Mendoza issued the Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the shipments for violating Sections 1113 (f), (i), and (l) of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act on 02 September 2020.

Mendoza earlier said the apprehension and destruction of counterfeit shipments including cigarettes should serve as a strong warning to would-be-smugglers.

‘The bureau never waned with its anti-smuggling campaign and is, in fact, at a heightened alert during this COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The smuggled cigarettes were destroyed at the facilities of Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI).

Marc Anthony Patriarca, deputy district collector for operations, said they have partnered with TCPI for the use of its facilities in compliance with the directive of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to dispose of the cigarettes by burning in the furnaces of cement plants.

TCPI’s Environment and Safety Officer Dwight Avila said the condemnation process was strictly monitored to ensure compliance with existing environmental protocols.

Patriarca was joined by Auction and Cargo Disposal Chief Ronald Morillo and representatives from the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and Enforcement and Security Service in supervising the actual condemnation process.

Representatives of Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation were also present to personally witness the destruction of the counterfeit cigarettes.

Last year, BOC Port of Cebu also seized and destroyed eight shipments of counterfeit cigarettes worth P374 million. — KQD (FREEMAN)