P595 million smuggled cigarettes in Mindanao, destroyed

P614K worth of cigarettes also seized in Lanao

On Jun 19, 2024

Zamboanga acting port district collector, Arthur Sevilla (2nd from left), leads the destruction of seized smuggled cigarettes worth more than P595 million last June 13, 2024, to ensure they can no longer be diverted to the local market, June 13, 2024 (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

THE Zamboanga office of the Bureau of Customs announced it had destroyed assorted cigarettes that were interdicted and seized by the authorities on several occasions worth more than P595 million.

Port of Zamboanga acting district collector, Arthur Sevilla, in his report to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, said the destruction took place at a BOC-rented warehouse in Bgy. Baliwasan, Zamboanga City, last June 13, 2024.

Citing from official data, Sevilla said the illicit cigarettes, with an aggregate value of P595.22 million, were seized through maritime patrol operations in various areas of the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Basulta area (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) in BARMM, between November 2023 and April 2024.

The confiscated cigarettes totaled more than 8,816 cases and 1,014 reams, he added.

The cigarettes were manually shredded with a cutter, drenched in water, and repeatedly crushed by payloader equipment in the presence of all partner agencies. What remained would be disposed of at a sanitary landfill in Brgy. Salaan, Zamboanga City.

Commending the operation, the customs chief said that “Maintaining transparency and credibility is our foremost commitment.

“The condemnation process plays a crucial role in ensuring the proper disposal of illicit goods.”

A customs officer counts the number of suspected smuggled cigarettes after interdiction at a police checkpoint in Bgy. Baning, Sapad, Lanao del Norte, last June 4, 2024 (photo credit to BOC-PIAD).

Rubio also commended the Port of Zamboanga’s Customs Police Division, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Division, and partner operating units, including the Western Mindanao Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Marines, National Bureau of Investigation, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the local government units, for their pro-active inter-agency coordination, resulting in expedient and effective operations against smugglers.

More cigarette seizures

At the Port of Cagayan de Oro, district collector Alexandra Lumontad said 768 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth more than P614,000.00, were intercepted in Bgy. Baning, Sapad, Lanao del Norte, last June 4, on board a Toyota Revo.

Lumontad reported to Rubio that the effort was supplemented with the support of the Philippine National Police and village officials of Bgy. Baning. She added the vehicle used was also seized as part of the evidence.

She added appropriate charges have been readied against the unnamed suspects for violation of Section 1113 and Section 1401 of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.