BOC seizes 12.3-million imported cigarettes from Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized 3,220 reams of assorted imported cigarettes from a ferry boat yesterday morning coming from Jolo, Sulu, with an estimated market value of 12.316 million.

BOC Zamboanga City District Collector Segundo Barte, Jr., said BOC operatives, with other deputized agencies of the government, seized 1,920 reams of LS cigarettes worth 11.536 million and 1,300 reams of Fort cigarettes worth 1780,000 from M/V Erlinda of Montenegro Lines, a passenger cargo vessel running the Zamboanga City- Jolo, Sulu route daily.

Barte said M/V Erlinda, which docked at Zamboanga International Port at 6 a.m. yesterday, came from Jolo, Sulu.

Barte said that upon receiving the report from a confidential informant, BOC operating agencies conducted a joint seaport interdic

tion and waited for the vessel to arrive at the port and immediately scoured the entire vessel for the reported contraband upon its arrival.

Authorities found 3,220 reams of imported cigarettes consisting of 1,920 reams of LS cigarettes and 1,300 reams of Fort in various sections of the ferry boat.

They took custody of the imported cigarettes and looked for the owner or owners of the goods but nobody claimed ownership of the cigarettes.

Barte said his office will not stop in its campaign against foreign goods, particularly cigarettes and sugar coming from Sandakan, Sabah Malaysia that are bound for the region.

He also said that his operations against imported goods were all on the instruction of BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero who wants him to strictly implement the BOC laws on imported goods.

He also reminded traders in this city who want to engage in the sale

and distribution of imported tobacco products to “secure first an Import Permit with the National Tobacco Administration, otherwise, BOC will confiscate these products and destroy them.”

Barte has ordered that all seized imported cigarettes be immediately destroyed for violation of Executive Order No. 245, the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Leaf Tobacco and Tobacco Products, and Section 117 of RA 10863 in relation to Section 1113 par. (f) and (g) of CMTA. (Nonoy E. Lacson)