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Customs destroys Php1.43-Billion worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zambo

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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Apr 28 (PIA) – The Bureau of Customs Port of Zamboanga (BOC) intensifies campaign on anti-smuggling in Zamboanga City and destroyed a total of 19,419 cases and 667 reams of smuggled cigarettes.

The seized smuggled cigarettes is worth Php 1.43-Billion pesos, which were apprehended during various anti-smuggling operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the first quarter of this year.

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According to the BOC Port of Zamboanga Acting District Collector Engr. Arthur Sevilla Jr., it is the largest condemnation of seized cigarettes in the Port of Zamboanga, following the major apprehension of a warehouse full of cigarettes in Indanan, Sulu that was spearheaded by Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIS) Director Verne Enciso back in March.

“This is a record-breaking amount, and we are thankful to the efforts and support of other agencies and the local government units,” he added.

The cigarettes were drenched in water and repeatedly crushed by a payloader equipment in the presence of all partner agencies and stakeholders. These will then be transported and disposed of in the sanitary landfill in Barangay Salaan, Zamboanga City. 

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The transporting process will carry on for about 3 to 5 days due to the considerable volume of the destroyed cigarettes.

The BOC also focuses on monitoring other smuggled items and goods aside from cigarettes. They will continue to curb smuggling in all forms, and the condemnations and destruction of these smuggled items, along with filing of appropriate criminal charges.

“We will definitely go after them and follow the orders based on the law,” Sevilla said.

The condemned master cases of cigarettes were seized for violating Section 117 of R.A. 10863 or the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) of 2016 in relation to Executive Order Number 245 entitled "Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco Products." (RVC/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)

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About the Author

Myra Cel Espinosa

Information Officer III

Region 9

Myra Espinosa is an Information Officer of the Philippine Information Agency Region IX.  She writes news and feature stories for the agency's website and social media platforms. She is currently the program host of Kapihan na Zamboanga Public Briefing, as well as a news contributor for PTV News. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration Major in Organization and Management from Western Mindanao State University.

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