The Bureau of Customs has intercepted more than P120 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.
The seizure stemmed from a call received from a citizen about a certain vessel allegedly carrying smuggled cigarettes, prompting BOC-Zamboanga operatives to conduct an operation on the ship M/L Nur 1, which arrived in Indanan, Sulu, from Indonesia.
According to the intelligence group, the information was then relayed to the Customs personnel in Taganak Island, Tawi Tawi, for validation and coordination.
Customs’ anti-smuggling operation resulted in the seizure of more than 3,000 boxes of undocumented cigarettes estimated to be worth P120 million.
The seized cigarettes will undergo proper disposition procedure pursuant to Customs laws, the agency said in a statement.
“The success of this operation under the stewardship of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero is attributed to the Bureau of Customs’ dedication to a more efficient monitoring, intelligence-gathering and full implementation of Customs laws and procedures with the ultimate goal of erasing the stigma of Mindanao being the country’s backdoor for smuggling operations,” the agency said.