BoC intesifies ops in 4 Mindanao provinces
Credit to Author: WILLIAM DEPASUPIL, TMT| Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:39:50 +0000
THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has intensified its anti-smuggling operations in four provinces in the Southern Mindanao region amid unabated smuggling of fake cigarettes and other goods in the area.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero on Thursday issued the order following the seizure of smuggled cigarettes in Isabela City, Basilan and a shipment of rice in Pangutaran, Sulu.
Covered by Guerrero’s directive was the Zambasulta (Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) area, in coordination with the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Joint Task Force Zamboanga and Philippine Ports Authority police.
Based on initial report, Guerrero disclosed the undetermined boxes of cigarettes of different brands were intercepted aboard MV Trisha Kistin-1 of Aleson Shipping Lines, while the rice shipment was found inside ML Nhardzrmar-2 docked at the Weebin Private Wharf in Baliwasan Seaside, Zamboanga City.
The seized goods, together with the vessels, were now with the BoC-Port of Zamboanga for the issuance of warrants of seizure and detention for violation of Section 1113 of Republic Act (RA) 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016”, and RA 8293 or the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.”
Zamboanga Port Collector Segunda Sigmunfreud Barte said they were still determining the actual value of the contraband.
“The seizure of cigarettes should serve as a warning to smugglers and manufacturers of fake cigarettes,” Barte added.
Last week, BoC-Port of Zamboanga seized P2.2 million worth of fake cigarettes in Jolo, Sulu.
In June, the BOC-PoZ and the Philippine Navy seized P25 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.
In May, the PoZ also confiscated more than P35 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, the biggest haul in the port’s history.
“These series of apprehensions are the results of a more intensified smuggling operations in the area,” Guerrero said.