MANILA — Some P605-million worth of smuggled cigarettes from China and Vietnam were seized by the Bureau of Customs during an inspection of a warehouse in Plaridel, Bulacan on Aug. 27.
The inspection was undertaken by virtue of a letter of authority, which followed a report from Intelligence Officer IV Alvin Enciso of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service–Manila International Container Port, who flagged suspicious activities in the Bulacan warehouse.
“Advancing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for enhanced enforcement against smuggling, the Bureau of Customs inspected a warehouse in Plaridel, Bulacan, leading to the discovery of approximately P605.29-million worth of illicit cigarettes with markings indicating China and Vietnam,” the BOC said.
The BOC said its operatives found the cigarettes in 8,647 master cases that lacked the required Bureau of Internal Revenue tax stamps and mandated graphic health warnings.
“Hindi to dumaan sa Customs. Idinaong sa isang Pier sa may Tondo, Manila. Malaking puhunan ang mawawala dun sa mga nagpasok nito,” said BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
He said the confiscated 8,647 boxes (comprising some 86.4 million sticks) bearing different brands like Bros, Modern, New Berlin, Commando, Nelson, Nise Menthol, and Nise Baisha were found hidden inside Building A-6 of the Philippine Asia Corp. complex. A 40-foot container van loaded with the same contraband was also found, he added.
The suspects arrested during the operation were identified as the warehouse renter and Filipino-Chinese national Randy Guevarra Ngo, container van driver Benjie Buenafe Diocades, and helper Joan Pagkaliwagan. They are presently detained at the BOC Enforcement and Security Service in Manila.
A warrant for seizure and detention is set to be issued against the allegedly smuggled items and the suspects for violation of Section 263 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 and Section 1113 of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), the BOC said.
Criminal complaints will also be filed against the owner of the warehouse where the cigarettes were discovered, it added. Punto News Team/BOC-FB
