Bureau of Customs (BOC) authorities in Port of Cagayan de Oro destroyed P50 million worth of China’s misdeclared cigarettes.
Operatives destroyed them in a warehouse facility in Opol, Misamis Oriental, on Friday, October 2.
“A team led by District Collector John Simon, District Commander of Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) SP/Capt. Abdila Maulana Jr., District Chief of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Oliver Valliente and personnel from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Northern Mindanao, condemned through crushing 79,800 reams of cigarettes,” it said.
The BOC said also destroyed the shipment consigned to Fern Freight Enterprises, which arrived at Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, on May 14, 2020, and declared to be office furniture.
“District Collector Simon issued a Decree of Abandonment for the shipment upon failure to lodge or request for extension of lodgement of its goods declaration within 15 days from the discharge of the last package from the carrying vessel as provided under Sec. 407 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” the Customs said.
Authorities previously issued an alert order on the shipment. Upon the 100% physical examination, operatives discovered that cargo actually contains cigarettes, the Custom said.
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Customs destroy P50 million worth of cigarettes from China
Also destroyed were cigarettes from shipment consigned to Dong Yin Industrial Supplies, which arrived on June 9, 2020, at Mindanao Container Terminal. They were declared disposable cups.
“A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued against the shipment consequently followed by an Order of Forfeiture upon being found out to contain cigarettes,” the BOC said.
Likewise, the BOC’s Accounts Management Office (AMO) revoked the accreditation of both Fern Freight Enterprises and Dong Yin Industrial Supplies for violation of Customs rules and regulations.
In July, a Chinese businessman was arrested after authorities seized almost P9 million worth of suspects smuggled cigarettes from him at Oringo Subdivision, Barangay City Heights, General Santos City.
In August, up to P80 million worth of cigarettes and face masks smuggled into the country were seized by the Bureau of Customs during a raid on a warehouse in Bulacan.