BOC men eyed in resale of P270 million seized cigarettes

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation is looking at the possible involvement of some personnel of the Bureau of Customs in an attempt to resell P270 million worth of smuggled cigarettes that were earlier seized by the BOC in Capas, Tarlac, according to NBI Director Jaime Santiago.

This developed after the NBI raided a warehouse in Capas on Thursday and found the contraband that was supposed to have been destroyed earlier.

Two men were arrested for alleged involvement in the scheme. They will be charged with economic sabotage.

Santiago said the cigarettes were supposed to have been destroyed at the Hazchem North, a waste disposal company located in Barangay Cutcut 2.

However, the owner of the company allegedly ordered his environmental consultant to find a buyer for the goods.

The NBI said it conducted cyber patrol and surveillance before launching an entrapment operation on Thursday night.

“A team of NBI agents carrying P17.5 million in marked money and a truck arrived at the site to supposedly buy the cigarettes,” Santiago said. “We arrested the consultant and the land supervisor after they received the money.”

The owner of the company was not present during the transaction.

“We will determine the accountability of the people involved in the scheme,” Santiago said.

He said he would seek guidance from the Department of Justice if the cigarettes should be destroyed as planned.