MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Saturday that it apprehended smuggled cigarettes worth more than P2.3 million.
According to BOC, it seized the cigarettes from a van that was flagged down at a checkpoint in Iligan City on May 16.
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The cigarettes were internationally manufactured but did not have stamps from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and were contained in almost 2,900 reams, the BOC said.
District Collector Alexandra Lumontad then issued a seizure warrant against the cigarettes and the transport vehicle used.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said that the agency will protect the country against the effects of illegal tobacco products.
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“The BOC is firm in its stance to protect our citizens against the harmful effects of unlawful tobacco products. This determination is exemplified by the series of crackdowns on these commodities,” Rubio said.