ALERT operatives of the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), foiled an attempt to smuggle P60 million worth of ‘Mighty’ cigarettes from China by diverting it to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Cavite.
MICP district collector, Romeo Allan Rosales, in a belated report to Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, said the apprehension, involving two 40-footer vans, took place last January 18, 2021.
The importer, YJC International Corporation, had declared the shipment as “plastic frames, round tubes, plastic bags, and plastic sheets.”
On actual inspection, found instead was 1,599 packages of cigarettes with the brand of ‘Mighty,’ the official added.
Rosales said he had already issued an “WSD” (warrant of seizure and detention) against the shipment for violation of Section 117, in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), as well as other relevant guidelines set by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).