The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has discovered 320 boxes of cigarettes worth an estimated ₱29.17 million in a shipment declared as scrap metal at the Subport of North Harbor.
In a statement dated October 9, the BOC said the cigarettes were found during spot checks on two 20-foot containers originating from Zamboanga, with assistance from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 unit.
One container was found to contain the cigarettes, while the other carried white cigarette filters packed in boxes bearing Chinese markings.
The shipment's declared contents did not match the actual goods discovered by customs authorities. The seized cigarette products have an estimated import value of ₱9.6 million and a market value of ₱29.17 million.
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno stressed that misdeclaration would not be allowed to serve as a means of concealing goods and evading customs and tax requirements.
“Malinaw ang ating paninindigan: hindi magiging daan ang maling deklarasyon para makalusot ang mga iligal na produkto,” Nepomuceno said.
He added that the bureau would continue strengthening inspections, intelligence operations, and coordination with partner agencies to protect government revenues and legitimate trade.
The discovery forms part of the BOC's intensified efforts to identify misdeclared and potentially illicit shipments before they enter the legitimate market. The bureau said appropriate procedures are ongoing in accordance with customs and revenue laws.
The agency also said its stricter cargo monitoring aligns with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s efforts to strengthen border protection, ensure proper revenue collection, and combat smuggling and other forms of illegal trade.
