More than 400 boxes of smuggled cigarettes were intercepted while in transit onboard a motorized banca in Cotabato City, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) said Saturday.
A total of 432 boxes of cigarettes amounting to P13,188.411 were seized while entering the borders of Cotabato City on December 7.
According to the Port of Davao, the shipment was intercepted while entering the country off the Rio Grande river in Cotabato City aboard a motorized banca marked with “Al-Shameem.”
The goods were bearing brands such as Fort, Bravo, Canon, New Berlin, Astro, Famous and Aries.
A warrant of seizure and detention was already issued against the shipment in violation of Republic Act 10863 (The Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).
“Through stronger relations with our partner agencies, we have increased anti-smuggling activities that led to higher rates of seizure on illicit goods in our area of responsibility,” Port of Davao District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria said in a statement.
The district collector said the shipment was intercepted through the joint operation of the bureau through Port of Davao’s sub-port in Parang, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement and Security Service, Philippine Marines, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard.
“The Port of Davao reassures the public that the collection district together with its sub-ports shall strive to protect the country’s borders in accordance with Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s drive to curb smuggling in the country,” Austria furthered. (Betheena Unite)