PALAUIG, Zambales — The Bureau of Customs seized some 1,600 master cases of cigarettes worth ₱175 million, bearing no Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps, from four shipping containers at a private port and compound here on Oct. 20.
The cigarettes, branded “Modern,” were discovered after operatives detected a strong smell of tobacco during an inspection, prompting them to open the containers in the presence of barangay representatives and Palauig police personnel.
The joint operation was led by the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service units in Limay and Subic, with support from the Enforcement and Security Service in Subic and Limay, Philippine Coast Guard Task Force Aduana, Philippine National Police Regional Office 3, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other law enforcement agencies. The Philippine Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion provided additional security.
The shipment was immediately seized and placed under BOC custody. The containers were resealed and secured with padlocks pending further investigation and the final inventory of the confiscated cigarettes.
“We will not allow shipments that evade taxes to slip through. With the help of our partner agencies, we will continue to intensify our monitoring to protect public funds and the livelihood of businesses that comply with the law,” BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said.
The operation forms part of the BOC’s intensified campaign against smuggling, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen enforcement against illegal trade.
The bureau said verification and documentation of the seized cigarettes are ongoing to support appropriate legal action and establish the accountability of those involved.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details on the shipment’s origin, intended recipients, and the individuals who may be held responsible. Photos: BOC
