Boc-subic foils ₧46.28-M cigarette smuggling from SG

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) in this free port foiled an attempt to smuggle some P46.28 million worth of cigarettes into the country when it seized a container brought in from Singapore on Thursday.

BOC-PORT of Subic said in a statement that a total of 1,122 master cases of Marvels filter cigarettes was in the container which was declared as containing fabrics.

The contraband was discovered after Boc-subic received derogatory information on the shipment, prompting Subic District Collector Maritess T. Martin to issue a pre-lodgement control order (PLCO) that allowed BOC to exercise jurisdiction over the imported goods.

Upon further investigation, it was also found out that the consignee, Proline Logistics Philippines Inc., was not registered in Subic as an importer of foreign cigarettes and tobacco products. The firm was not also on the Bureau of

Internal Revenue (BIR) list for registered importers of cigarette brands.

Martin subsequently issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment for violation of National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Memorandum Circular No. 03 and Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization Tariff Act, Boc-subic said in a statement.

This was not the first time that Bocsubic flagged a shipment for Proline Logistics.

Boc-subic said it also seized two shipments worth P84.97 million for said consignee last month.

Along with another container consigned to Russhi Knish Consumer, Proline’s shipments that were seized in July comprised 3,160 master cases of cigarettes that were worth a total of P131.14 million.

District Collector Martin said the Port of Subic will continue strengthening its border protection efforts against the entry of illegal goods into the country.