INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – About P600,000 worth of undocumented cigarettes were seized in Dipolog City, the Philippine Coast Guard said Friday.
According to the report of the Coast Guard K9 force, nine boxes of cigarettes with more or less P600,000 total market value were confiscated on Feb. 9 at Dipolog City Port.
“Habang nagsasagawa ng regular na pag-iinspeksyon sa pantalan, napansin ng mga otoridad ang mga kahina-hinalang kargamento ng isang sasakyan,” the Coast Guard K9 Force said in a statement.
(While conducting a routine inspection at the port, the authorities noticed the suspicious cargo of a vehicle.)
Upon verification of the issue, PCG notified other concerned authorities, and the responsibility of further investigation was then handed over to the Bureau of Customs.
“Ang nasabing Undocumented Cigarettes ay maayos na nai-turn over sa Bureau of Customs para sa tamang Disposisyon,” the K9 force added.
(The said undocumented cigarettes are properly turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.)
In December last year, business groups lauded the passage of House Bill 3917, which amended Sections 3 and 4 of Republic Act No. 10845, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 1996, making smuggling tobacco products and staple foods a non-bailable offense. — Niña Cuasay, INQUIRER.net trainee
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