Authorities seized illicit cigarettes worth an estimated ₱860 million from 11 40-foot container vans during a joint inter-agency operation in Cebu on Wednesday, June 24, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said.
In a press release issued Thursday, the BOC said the operation was conducted on June 24 in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PGC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
According to the BOC, initial investigation showed that the shipments were being transported through domestic routes using a local shipping line for distribution.
The operation was launched following intelligence information that led authorities to intercept two 40-foot container vans carrying suspected illicit cigarettes in Mandaue City early Wednesday. Information obtained from the drivers led authorities to a container yard in Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City, where six more container vans loaded with cigarettes were discovered.
Furthermore, representatives of the trucking company later informed authorities that three additional containers had yet to be unloaded from a private shipping facility in Mandaue City.
"Upon arrival at the facility, the identified containers were confirmed to be loaded with cigarettes, bringing the total number of containers discovered to eleven (11) with an estimated value of ₱860 million," the BOC said.
The agency said the Port of Cebu is coordinating with officials of the shipping line to trace the origin and movement of the shipments.
"A full inventory and final valuation are currently being undertaken to determine the exact value of the seized commodities," the BOC added.
The latest operation follows the BOC's recent seizure of 23 containers of illicit cigarettes valued at approximately ₱1.7 billion at a private wharf in Manila earlier this week.
With the Cebu operation, the estimated value of illicit cigarette shipments intercepted this week has reached around ₱2.5 billion, highlighting the government's intensified anti-smuggling campaign, the agency said.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno commended the operating teams and reaffirmed the bureau's commitment to combating the illegal tobacco trade.
"Hindi tayo titigil sa pagsugpo sa iligal na kalakalan ng sigarilyo na nagpapahina sa lehitimong negosyo at nagkakait ng kita para sa pamahalaan. Through sustained intelligence operations and close coordination with our partner agencies, the Bureau of Customs will continue to pursue those responsible and dismantle the networks that enable illicit trade," Nepomuceno said.
