The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Collection District XII took custody of five boxes of “Bros” white cigarettes, 36 reams of alleged fake “Jackpot” white, and 23 reams “Marlboro” red cigarettes valued at P150,000 following a buy-bust operation.

With the strengthened coordination between the BOC-Collection District XII and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Davao City Police Office confiscated the boxes at Purok 14, Brgy. Lubogan, Toril, Davao City on January 3, 2023.

The arrested suspect was placed under the custody of the PNP-Region Office 11. Appropriate charges shall be filed against the suspect for cigarette smuggling.

District Collector Erastus Sandino B. Austria shall issue 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 arrest was a result of the port’s active support to the Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz’s priority program to increase revenue collection by preventing revenue leakages caused by the smuggling of contraband.

It is also in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s economic agenda of upholding public order and safety by safeguarding the public from the harmful consumption of smuggled goods.#