Navy stops boat transporting P160 million worth of smuggled cigarettes

File picture of one incident where BOC confiscated boxes of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga City. (Photo from BOC)

MANILA, Philippines — A motor boat containing over P160 million worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes was stopped by Philippine Navy.

Navy officers took into custody M/B Indah Nadz and its 12 crew members after it was discovered that the boat was carrying  2,798 master cases of Oakley original cigarettes.

The operation took place the waters off Baturapac island in Tandubas, Tawi Tawi last Wednesday.

“The team intercepted and inspected the said vessel loaded with master cases of assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes after receiving information from our IG (Intelligence Group) and CIIS (Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service) Zamboanga,” Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bien Rubio said.

“The total value of the illegally imported cigarettes is about P160,325,400 based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s regulation of P57,300 per master case,” BOC Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said.

Navy and Customs first thought the operation would result in the confiscation of smuggled fuel, instead of cigarettes.

Navy officers were on patrol and heading toward Tandubas island when they received the call to intercept the boat with suspicious cargoes.

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