THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has conducted seizure activities of smuggled cigarettes in General Santos, with the value of the products seized estimated at P4.4 million.
In a statement, the BOC said it captured 8,200 reams of various brands of cigarettes in one closed van.
The items were seized at a checkpoint, as the assigned examiners conducted a full physical examination of the smuggled cigarettes.
The BOC immediately issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the seized goods for violation of Section 117, Section 1113 and Section 400 of R.A No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The BOC said it will continue its intensified campaign against illegally imported goods as aligned with the commissioner’s program of curbing smuggling.
Just last month, the BOC’s Port of Zamboanga seized undocumented cigarettes also valued at P4.4 million.
The bureau intercepted a motorized wooden watercraft loaded with 126 master cases of the undocumented cigarettes.
Allegedly, the watercraft, manned by four crew members, originated from Jolo, Sulu, and was bound for Zamboanga City.
However, the BOC said that no documents were presented to prove the regularity of prior importation of the smuggled cigarettes and their transport to Zamboanga City.
