₱115.6 million smuggled cigarettes intercepted at Port of Cebu

THE Bureau of Customs’ Port of Cebu announced the interdiction and seizure of smuggled cigarettes loaded in two container vans worth ₱115.6 million two weeks ago.

In a belated public statement, District Collector Alexandra Lumontad-Yap said the successful operation was conducted last May 11 with assistance provided by the Philippine Coast Guard Intelligence Group – Central Visayas (PCGIG-CV).

The physical examination of one 40-footer container van and one 20-footer container van on May 11 resulted to the discovery of approximately 1,445 master cases of assorted illicit cigarettes, comprising 466 master cases of Modern brand cigarettes and 979 master cases of Nise Baisha brand cigarettes, Yap said.

Further inventory revealed that each master case contained 10,000 cigarette sticks, placing the estimated street value of the shipment at ₱115,600,000.00

Yap added she issued the ‘WSD’ (warrant of seizure and detention) against the shipment last May 22. The identity of those behind the smuggling attempt was kept away from the public.

Early this month, Yap added that 200 pieces of vape pod cartridges worth ₱66,000 was also confiscated from an arriving passenger from South Korea at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The statement did not clarify if the erring passenger was charged for violation of customs laws or released after the confiscation of the cartridges.