IG FOILS ‘BRAZEN’ SMUGGLING ATTEMPT AT MICP
P422.615 million of smuggled cigarettes seized thus far
THE Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Friday, July 24, 2020, apprehended a “brazen” smuggling attempt of 7 X 20 container vans of imported cigarettes worth P186.9 million from China.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Rainier Ramiro, in a talk with Pinoy Exposé, identified the consignee as ‘Rhyanne Consumer Goods Trading’ and the customs broker as Annaly Ladeza Almadin.
“The smuggling attempt was so brazen; the perpetrators did not even bother to put a ‘layer’ of their declared shipment at the front of the container.
“Pagbukas namin, sigarilyo na agad ang ‘bumulaga’ sa amin,” the official said.
The consignee, thru Almadin, claimed the shipment consisted of “towels, school bags, bed sheets, non-woven bags and fabrics.”
However, upon opening of the containers, Ramiro said they were confronted with cartons of ‘Two Moon’ and ‘D&B’ cigarette brands totaling 6,249 master cases.
Both the owner of Rhyanne Consumer Goods and Almadin are now facing smuggling charges and for violation of related laws of the National Tobacco Administration and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Ramiro said.
He added that he has ordered the “backtracking” of all shipping documents related to all apprehended smuggled cigarettes by the bureau in order to unmask those regularly attempting to smuggle cigarettes into the country.
Thus far, thru the intelligence provided by the IG, the BOC has apprehended smuggled cigarettes that include:
The P107 million cigarettes apprehended at the Port of Davao last July 16 and the P93 million smuggled cigarettes at the Port of Subic at the start of the month.
With last Friday’s apprehension, the BOC has thus far seized smuggled and fake cigarettes worth more than P422.62 million this July.
The latest incident was also the second time the BOC foiled an attempt to use the MICP as entry point for smuggled cigarettes. Last July 2, P32.7 million of cigarettes was also seized at the port.
