The Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga, together with its partner agencies, destroyed approximately 3,110 master cases and 1,372 reams of imported smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of Php 110 million last 05 May 2022 in a customs-rented warehouse in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City.

The condemnation of cigarettes is led by Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte Jr., District Collector of the Port of Zamboanga, together with representatives from the local government units, heads of partner law enforcement agencies, representatives from Commission on Audit, Department of Health, and other concerned stakeholders.

Among the items destroyed are more than 3,110 master cases of cigarettes, seized in separate anti-smuggling operations and customs checkpoints located in Zamboanga Peninsula and BASULTA from December 2021 to March 2022.

District Collector Barte Jr. echoes the instruction of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to continuously intensify the operations of the BOC in the region to prevent the entry of illicit goods. He stresses that the BOC, together with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, National Bureau of Investigation, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the local government and other concerned stakeholders, will continuously strengthen its efforts to combat smuggling in the country.