THE Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu destroyed last Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 1,804 master cases of smuggled counterfeit cigarettes worth over P90 Million at the facilities of Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI) in San Fernando, Cebu province.
The cigarettes which arrived on two separate occasions last month from China declared as “table panels, cabinets and chairs” and bearing “Mighty”, “Marvels” and “Fort” brands, were seized and eventually forfeited by the port.
“We have partnered with TCPI for the use of its facilities in compliance with Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero’s directive to dispose forfeited cigarettes through burning in the furnaces of cement plants,” explained Deputy District Collector for Operations Marc Anthony C. Patriarca.
TCPI’s Environment and Safety Officer Dwight P. Avila emphasized that the condemnation process was strictly monitored to ensure compliance with existing environmental protocols.
Patriarca was joined by Auction and Cargo Disposal Chief Ronald D. 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 from the Japan Tobacco International and Phillip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation also witnessed the destruction.
Last year, the POC also seized and destroyed eight shipments of counterfeit cigarettes worth more than P374 million.