P13.5M worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City
The Bureau of Customs and Philippine National Police confiscate 240 master cases of allegedly smuggled cigarettes roughly valued at P13.572 million in Zamboanga City on Monday, November 6, 2023. Photo from BOC
MANILA, Philippines — Government agents have confiscated 240 master cases of cigarettes roughly valued at P13.572 million in Zamboanga City.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the smuggled imported cigarettes were seized from a boat off the coast of Barangay Maasin in an operation it conducted with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on November 6.
The agency said the boat may have come from Jolo, Sulu, and was en route to Zamboanga City.
The Bureau of Customs and Philippine National Police confiscate 240 master cases of allegedly smuggled cigarettes roughly valued at P13.572 million in Zamboanga City on Monday, November 6, 2023. Photo from BOC
The boat and cigarettes were placed in the custody of the BOC.
“The BOC will not tolerate any illicit activity that poses danger to the security and well-being of our citizens. We are relentless in our efforts to combat all forms of smuggling, and we will continue to work with our partner agency to put an end to all nefarious smuggling activities,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said in a statement Thursday.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s subsequent inspection of the smuggled shipment showed it was negative for illegal drugs, according to the BOC.
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