NBI-7 confirms alleged P813-M smuggled cigarettes case in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The NBI-7 on Tuesday, June 30, confirmed its investigation on the attempted smuggling of imported cigarettes worth P813 million.

The contraband was loaded into 11 container trucks, two of which were already shipped and intercepted in Manila.

READ: P1.7-B smuggled cigarettes seized at private port in Cebu

The announcement was made during a press conference, where NBI officials said the operation stemmed from intelligence shared by the bureau’s Manila office, leading to an interagency operation involving the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

According to NBI CEVRO Supervising Agent Gregorio Algoso Jr., the investigation began after the NBI’s Manila office intercepted two container vans and traced them to a Gothong vessel that had departed from Cebu.

“The investigation started when our Manila unit intercepted two containers in Manila and found that the ship came from a Gothong vessel. It appeared to be a domestic shipment because it came from Cebu,” Algoso said.

READ: Smuggled cigarettes worth P80-M seized by PCG Central Cebu

Authorities first tracked two container trucks along A.S. Fortuna Street that was reportedly headed to Barangay Bacayan in Cebu City. After questioning the drivers, the interagency team proceeded to Bacayan, where they discovered six more containers.

“We found six containers there. So later on we discovered that there are still three containers left at Gothong Pier”, Algoso saidwith .

Investigators later found three more containers left at the Gothong port after the vessel had already departed, bringing the total number of recovered containers loaded smuggled cigarettes to 11.

Authorities said the shipment consisted of imported cigarettes carrying the modern brand which is not commercially available in the Philippines, and did not bear the tax stamps required by the BIR.

The NBI said investigators are now conducting inventory and verification procedures to determine the shipment’s origin before it entered the container yard and identify those responsible for the smuggling operation.

READ: P105-M ‘smuggled’ cigarettes seized in Zamboanga del Sur ops

No charges have been filed as of Tuesday as authorities continue their investigation.

Officials further said the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue will also determine which agency will take custody of the confiscated cigarettes and the appropriate violations that may be pursued against the still to be identified suspects.

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