BOC seizes P60 million smuggled cigarettes

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted P60 million worth of smuggled cigarettes as the government continued to step up its campaign against smuggling.

The cigarettes, allegedly imported by Ocean World Enterprises, were intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Sept. 30 through the efforts of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and X-ray Inspection Unit, the BOC said yesterday.

The 1,198 boxes of cigarettes from China were declared to be cartons, furniture and bags, among others.

A total of 11 shipments of Ocean World are under investigation for the illegal importation of cigarettes.

The importer faces charges of violating Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, as well as Bureau of Internal Revenue and National Tobacco Authority regulations.