The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Davao, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, intercepted 4250 reams of illicit cigarettes worth 2.45 million pesos and a Hyundai Porter Freezer Van with a combined value of P3 million at a checkpoint operation.

The items were seized at a checkpoint between PNP Eden Station 19 and Philippine Army – Task Force Davao at Sirawan, Toril, Davao City on Oct. 31, 2022.

The items were immediately turned over to the custody of the BOC, while the suspects were placed under the custody of the PNP, Region Office 11. The Bureau will file charges against the suspects for smuggling of illicit cigarettes (Section 1138 of the CMTA).

BOC Davao District Collector lawyer Erastus Sandino B. Austria issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the smuggled items for violating Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 and Section 400 of the Republic Act No. 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The BOC-Davao would continue its campaign against smuggling imported goods into the country in line with Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz’s priority programs to bring to international standards BOC’s primary mandate of revenue collection, border protection, and trade facilitation.#