BOC destroys P1.5 billion worth of illegal cigarettes, fake revenue stamps

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga spearheaded the destruction of P545 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and raw materials intended for the manufacture of the goods Friday at Fast Cargo Logistics Warehouse, Brgy. Baliwasan in Zamboanga City.

Fake internal revenue stamps, which are used in cigarette cases, worth P1 billion were also turned over to Bureau of Internal Revenue for proper investigation and disposal.

District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. said the assorted cigarettes and materials were seized in separate operations, that started in May, in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

According to the BOC, more than 5,500 master cases of cigarettes were laid out on an outdoor yard, drenched in water, and were disposed of to the sanitary landfill in Brgy. Salaan.

The fake revenue stamps, meanwhile, were taken to BOC custody during the May apprehension operations in Pagadian City.

The Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, National Bureau of Investigation, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, and local stakeholders all had a hand in the operations.