THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) remains relentless in its anti-smuggling campaign, seizing P30 million worth of smuggled cigarettes declared as ‘personal effects’ and arresting three drug suspects after two successful ‘controlled delivery operations’ in Manila and Davao City.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Raniel Ramiro, in a report to Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, said elements from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and the X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), found 820 master cases of ‘Astro’ brand cigarettes worth P30 million the consignee declared as ‘personal effects.’
‘Personal effects’ shipments are covered by a separate customs release process under the Informal Entry Division (IED).
Ramiro identified the erring consignee as ‘MBS Cargo Movers,’ adding the shipment actually came from China.
Prior to this, Ramiro said his office receive a ‘derogatory information’ that the shipment actually consists of cigarettes, which was confirmed after one of the 40-foot containers was subjected to X-ray examination, prior to the conduct of 100 percent physical inspection.
At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Coll. Carmelita ‘Mimel’ Talusan, reported to Guerrero the successful conduct of two ‘controlled delivery’ of illegal drugs consisting of the party drug, ‘Ecstasy’ pills, which resulted to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of the illegal drugs with a total value of P5.73 million.
First to fall in the operation last February 4, 2021, which started at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City and which ended at a house in Elrio Village, Davao City, were, ‘Christian Sulla’ and ‘Kenneth Cajoles,’ both of legal age.
Unknown to the suspects, the 494 pieces of drugs valued at P839,800, had already been discovered by the BOC as far back as January 18, 2021, and had already been turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for custody and further case build-up.
The next to fall last February 15, 2021, was ‘RonRon Salonga,’ a resident of Port Area, Manila and who claimed a parcel from the Netherlands sent by a certain ‘Mary Lumbao Edward’ declared as “women’s and kids’ clothes and shoes.”
However, the shipment actually consisted of 2,878 tablets of Ecstasy worth P4.893 million.