Over P74K-worth of smuggled cigarettes confiscated in Zamboanga

A total of 149 reams of smuggled cigarettes valued at P74,500 were confiscated in Zamboanga. The smuggled Cannon Menthol Cigarettes were onboard MV Lady Mary Joy 1, a passenger vessel from Sulu. PHOTO FROM: Bureau of Customs

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 149 reams of smuggled cigarettes valued at P74,500 were confiscated in Zamboanga, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Thursday.

The smuggled Cannon Menthol Cigarettes were onboard MV Lady Mary Joy 1, a passenger vessel from Sulu, and were confiscated by BOC-Port of Zamboanga and other law enforcement agencies.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) will be issued against the smuggled cigarettes for violation of Executive Order No. 245, “Amended Rules & Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products” and Section 117 of RA 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) of 2016, the customs bureau said.

“Secure first an Import Permit with the National Tobacco Administration; otherwise, we will confiscate these products and destroy them,” District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte Jr. said in a statement.

“I already requested our DOH and BOC members to conduct an examination of all confiscated cigarettes for immediate condemnation of these cigarettes pursuant to Section 1145 of the CMTA” he added.

With the latest operation, the amount of smuggled cigarettes confiscated under Barte had reached P120 million. /je