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MANILA, Philippines – P6.5 million worth of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes were seized in Malabon City, the Customs Office (BOC) reported Sunday.
The BOC said its Enforcement and Security Service Rapid Reaction Team (ESS-QRT), in coordination with the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), seized the smuggled cigarettes during a raid on a warehouse in Barangay Tugatog in the city of Malabon on September 23.
The bureau said that upon inspection of the warehouse, 196 master boxes of illicit cigarettes of various brands were found with an estimated value of P6.5 million.
Further investigations are underway to identify the owner of the products as well as the owner of the warehouse, and inventory is also underway to determine the volume and quantity of the seized goods, the BOC said.
The ESS said that the warehouse owner and those behind the illicit products are responsible for the violation of Section 1400 of the Republic Law No. 10863 or the Modernization and Customs Tariffs Law, as well as the provisions of the Law of the Republic N ° 8424 or the National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines for the lack and falsification of tax stamps.
“As the Customs Office continues to enhance efforts to strengthen border security, the ESS remains committed to ensuring that illicit products are stopped to prevent the proliferation of illegal and counterfeit products in the marketplace,” said BOC.
“The ESS also ensures that those responsible must face the full force of the law,” he added.
/ MUF
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