P54-M Smuggled Cigarettes from China Seized in Cebu

Customs officials intercepted a total of 1,092 master cases of cigarettes with an estimated value of PHP54.6 million inside a container van, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu said on Saturday.

Charlito Martin Mendoza, acting chief of the BOC-Port of Cebu, said his office is now investigating the owner of the cigarettes smuggled from China that arrived at the Cebu International Port (CIP) on August 16.

In an alert order, Mendoza said the smuggled cigarettes were consigned to GRR Trading declared as umbrella, tables, drawers, and lockers.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Cebu field station alerted Mendoza’s office about the cigarette shipment and recommended the issuance of pre-lodgement control order after receiving the derogatory information that the container vans were loaded with “other things” other than the umbrella, tables, drawers, and lockers.

“Based on the inward foreign manifest meron namang consignee, yung GRR Trading, (there seems to be a consignee, it’s the GRR Trading), but no import entry was filed for the shipment kaya pina-alert natin (that’s why we have it alerted),” Mendoza told the Philippine News Agency.

The X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) detected suspicious images after placing the container under x-ray inspection.

Based on the 100-percent physical examination on the shipment together with representatives from CIIS, XIP, Enforcement and Security Service, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc.-Cebu Chapter, customs examiner Alfredo Regidor Jr. discovered 1,092 master cases of “Astro” brand cigarettes.

“We are investigating if the cigarettes smuggled last June and this latest seizure are owned by one and the same person,” Mendoza said.

He issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings.

Last June, BOC-Cebu also intercepted a PHP76-million shipment of smuggled “Mighty” and “Marvel” cigarettes from China consigned to Giomab Trading and was misdeclared as oval dish.

Mendoza said the smuggled cigarettes last June could be part of the cigarette shipment confiscated by Customs authorities in Zamboanga, Manila, and Davao. (PNA)