DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Tuesday the confiscation of smuggled cigarettes valued at P105,575,000 in a crackdown on smuggling syndicates in Barangay Santa Isabel here on Jan. 9.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the raid was conducted by operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and Enforcement and Security Service together with the Philippine Coast Guard in coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
BOC conducted the operation also in close coordination with Barangay Santa Isabel officials, Bataan Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army.
The raiding team discovered inside the compound 13 motor vehicles loaded with approximately 1,030 master cases of tobacco products bearing brands such as Modern, RGD, Nise Baisha, HP, Power, Carnival, Playboy and President.
Nepomuceno said the countries of origin of these cigarettes as shown on the packaging and initial investigation revealed these cigarettes came from China, Vietnam and Korea.
Initial investigation also indicated that these smuggled cigarettes were intended for distribution in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley) and 3 (Central Luzon).
Source: Bureau of Customs seizes P105M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Bataan
