P10-M worth of smuggled cigarettes, unlicensed guns seized in Makati
Personnel of the Bureau of Customs confiscate around P10 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, as well as unlicensed firearms and other items during a raid in a store and storage facility in Makati City on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. (Photo from BOC)
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs has confiscated around P10 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, as well as unlicensed firearms during a raid in a store and storage establishment in Makati City.
Armed with a letter of authority signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, personnel of its Intelligence Group (IG) – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and the Enforcement and Security Service raided the establishment on Tuesday. Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard also joined the raid.
Aside from the smuggled cigarettes and unlicensed short and long firearms, the raiding team also found test kits for the coronavirus disease and Chinese medicine Linhua Qingwen Jiaonang suspected of being sold to the public.
Other items found at the site were face masks and liquors.
IG Deputy Commissioner Raniel Ramiro said the BOC will coordinate with the Food and Drugs Administration on the recovered medicines and with the Philippine National Police to seek information on the seized firearms.
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