MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Port of Manila (POM) seized on Friday P34.7 million worth of cigarettes “misdeclared” as furniture and blinds which were concealed in two containers from China.
BOC personnel inspects on Friday, May 8, 2020, boxes of cigarettes “misdeclared” as furniture and blinds and were concealed in two containers. BOC said the shipment came from China. Photo from BOC
According to BOC, the shipments arrived on April 27 and May 1 and were consigned to Vierport International Co. and Anikas Will Industry Corp. The shipments, however, were put on hold a day after its dates of arrival and were examined earlier on Friday.
The BOC-POM conducted physical examination of the containers together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
District Collector Arsenia Ilagan ordered the issuance of Warrants of Seizure and Detention to the subject shipments for violation of Section 1400 or Misdeclaration, Misclassification and Undervaluation in Goods Declaration in relation to Section 1113 or the Property Subject Seizure and Forfeiture of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“The BOC-Port of Manila will continue to be vigilant against customs fraud and fulfill its mandate to strengthen border security,” read a statement from the bureau.
Last month, assorted smuggled cigarettes amounting to P8.275 million were also intercepted by authorities in Zamboanga City.