Under the proposed law, cigarette smuggling as economic sabotage carries stiffer and heftier penalties, including making the illicit trade non-bailable.
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Limay seized an estimated P10 million worth of smuggled cigarettes on June 6, 2022 in Orion, Bataan.
Armed with a Letter of Authority signed by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the joint operatives composed of BOC-Limay, Enforcement Security Services (ESS), Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Philippine National Police (PNP) – Orion, and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – K9 Unit raided a store and a resort in Barangay San Vicente, Orion, Bataan.
The joint operation stemmed from the derogatory information received by the Port that alleged smuggled cigarettes are illegally sold in the said area. Upon inspection, the raiding team found 487 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P10 million.
Subject cigarettes were secured by the ESS personnel and brought to the BOC Office for safekeeping.
The alleged involved personalities will be subjected to investigation and will be referred to BATAS for case build-up and possible prosecution, particularly the owner/possessor of the store and resort for violation of Section 1401of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The BOC, under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, assures the public that it will continue to be vigilant in protecting the country’s borders against the proliferation of illicit goods.
metrosundaily
