BOC-Zambo anti-smuggling campaign seizes 18 vehicles

ZAMBOANGA CITY -The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has impounded 18 vehicles in the agency’s continued anti-smuggling campaign in this southern port city.

BOC-Zamboanga District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. said Friday the confiscated vehicles were used by smugglers to transport contraband to this city.

Most of the seized contraband, he said, were cigarettes illegally imported from such countries as Malaysia and Indonesia.

Barte said they have so far seized millions of pesos worth of smuggled cigarettes and rice since January this year.

He advised the owners of the impounded vehicles to seek legal advice since the BOC would not just release the vehicles to them without due process.

“We have no choice but to impound the vehicles since these were involved in smuggling activities. The release of the vehicles will have to pass through the process,” Barte said.

He said the govern

ment will lose millions of pesos in terms of taxes once smuggling activities remain unabated.

However, he said the anti-smuggling campaign in this part of the country would continue and would be intensified in line with the marching orders of President Rodrigo Duterte to curb smuggling activities.

Meanwhile, Barte has

expressed his gratitude to other government agencies and law enforcement units that supported the BOC in its anti-smuggling campaign in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Barte also thanked the informants who provided them timely information that led to several successful anti-smuggling campaigns. (PNA)