Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio commended the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) for its Bulacan operation, where over P5.5-billion worth of smuggled cigarettes and counterfeit goods was seized.
The raid took place at 19 warehouses in Green Miles Compound, Sitio Cabatuhan, Camalig, Meycauayan. The CIIS-MICP men carried out the operation based on a Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by Rubio.
“Removing illicit, unsafe, and untested tobacco products from our markets is one of the many functions of the BOC. This safeguards our community and ensures that our consumers only have access to products that underwent rigorous standard testing,” Rubio said.
Pending the final inventory of the goods by the assigned BOC examiners, Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said the warehouses were temporarily padlocked and sealed to protect the seized items.
“Many of the items we found in the warehouses were everyday devices and gadgets that Filipinos use in their daily lives. Our consumers must be certain of the quality and durability of these products, but because these smugglers circumvent the law, we cannot give our buyers the same protection that authorized and legitimate items provide,” Uy said.
The shipment’s consignors and consignees can face charges for violating Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
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