BOC probes cigarette smuggling in Cebu, rest of the country

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) continues to investigate cigarette smuggling across the country, including in Cebu, as part of its efforts to protect legitimate businesses and safeguard government revenues.

The bureau’s ongoing investigation seeks to identify those responsible for the recent shipment of smuggled cigarettes worth P980 million in Cebu, establish the shipment’s origin, and determine the full extent of violations committed under existing customs and related laws, it said in an advisory.

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the bureau remains resolute in its campaign against the illicit tobacco trade and other forms of smuggling.

READ: ₱980M worth of illicit cigarettes seized in Mandaue wharf

₱980M smuggled cigarettes

On July 2, the BOC, through the Port of Cebu, intercepted smuggled cigarettes concealed in 25 20-foot container vans during an enforcement operation at a private wharf facility in Mandaue City. The seized shipments were estimated to be worth ₱980 million.

“Malinaw ang mensahe ng operasyon na ‘to, hindi titigil ang BOC sa kampanya laban sa illicit tobacco trade at lahat ng uri ng smuggling. Ipagpapatuloy ng ahensya ang pagpapalakas ng intelligence-driven enforcement operations, katuwang ang ating partner agencies, upang tuluyang mabuwag ang mga smuggling networks, maprotektahan ang mga legitimate businesses, at mabantayan ang pondo ng bayan,” Nepomuceno said.

(The operation’s message is clear: the BOC will not stop its campaign against illicit tobacco trade and all other forms of smuggling. The agency will continue to strengthen its intelligence-driven operations, in coordination with partner agency, so that we can put a stop to these smuggling networks, protect legitimate businesses, and guard the public’s money.)

READ: ₱860M worth of illicit cigarettes seized in Cebu

Intensified campaign vs smuggling

The confiscation of the smuggled cigarettes marks another major accomplishment for the BOC and reinforces the agency’s intensified campaign to dismantle smuggling networks, protect legitimate businesses, and safeguard government revenues, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

As part of its July enforcement operations, the BOC issued a Letter of Authority (LOA) and Mission Order pursuant to Section 224 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), authorizing Customs personnel to inspect shipments stored at a private port in Mandaue City.

READ: BOC Cebu surpasses Q1 goals, earns praise for operational efficiency

The implementation of the LOA was carried out by the BOC in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Nepomuceno said BOC will continue to intensify its campaign against the illicit tobacco trade and all forms of smuggling in the country.

READ: BIR estimates P343.12-M tax on Illicit cigarettes seized in Cebu

Intelligence-driven enforcement

At the Port of Cebu, District Collector Alexandra Yap-Lumontad said they remained steadfast in the Bureau’s mandate to curb all forms of smuggling by strengthening intelligence-driven enforcement operations in coordination with partner law enforcement agencies to protect government interests and ensure compliance with customs laws.

The July 2 operation was carried out shortly before Yap-Lumontad’s promotion to the BOC’s new Service Director of the Financial Management Office.

She will continue to serve as District Collector of the Port of Cebu pending her assumption of her new post.

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