P600-million worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Cebu

AUTHORITIES seized an estimated P600 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a joint operation in this city on, Wednesday, June 24, leading to the confiscation of 11 40-foot container vans and the apprehension of two truck drivers.

The operation was conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and other partner agencies.

Six container vans were intercepted in Barangay Bacayan, while three others were secured at a shipping company's container yard near the port.

Arnel Pura of NBI-7 said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports about the presence of illegally imported cigarettes.

Follow-up verification led authorities to additional shipments believed to be linked to the same group.

Pura said investigators later discovered two more containers that had already left the shipping facility and were subsequently placed under government custody.

These two container vans were placed outside the compound of PCG, as of this writing.

Authorities are also looking into three other unclaimed 40-foot containers reportedly still inside the facility.

“We are coordinating with the management so we can recover or seize the three others,” Pura said.

The identities of the two arrested drivers were withheld as investigations continue.

According to PCG Cebu Station Commander Capt. Jerome Lozada, the eight containers contained an estimate of more than 900 master cases of cigarettes.

Authorities believe the shipments are owned by a single operator.

Pura said the scale of the operation points to the involvement of an organized smuggling syndicate.

He noted that illegally imported cigarettes evade taxes, allowing them to be sold at lower prices and causing losses in government revenue.

Authorities have launched a backtracking investigation to determine how the shipments entered the country and identify those responsible.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue will also assess the tax liabilities arising from the confiscated tobacco products.

These seized cargo remains under government custody pending inventory, verification, and the filing of appropriate charges.(MyTVCebu)

• Tags
• #National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7)
• #Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
• #Bureau of Customs (BOC)
• #Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
• #Cebu City
• #Barangay Bacayan
• #container vans
• #shipping company
• #smuggled cigarettes
• #tobacco products
• #cigare