Firm faces cigarette smuggling raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is preparing charges against a firm for smuggling P18 million worth of Marlboro cigarettes into the country from China in October.

The shipment, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port, was consigned to Transocean Export Sales based in Intramuros, Manila.

The cigarettes were misdeclared as monoacetate filter rods, the BOC said.

Misdeclaration, as defined in the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines, is outright smuggling, according to BOC risk management office chief Chris Bolastig.