The Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga (BOC-POZ) confiscated P7.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes along the waters of Brgy. Manalipa, Zamboanga City, on July 8, 2023.

The BOC-POZ, in coordination with the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company “Seaborne” and W2 Tactical Operations Wing Western Mindanao, Philippine Airforce, conducted a joint maritime patrol operation which led the team to intercept a wooden motorized watercraft, locally known as “jungkong”, marked as “FB Hayarana”.

The jungkong was loaded with 203 master cases and 66 reams of assorted cigarettes of various brands: Modern, New Far, Fort, Cannon and San Marino.

The six (6) crew members failed to present documents that prove the regularity of prior importation of the subject cigarettes, and subsequent transport to Zamboanga City.

District Collector Arthur G. Sevilla Jr. stressed that the strengthened maritime operations are part of POZ’s commitment to prevent outright smuggling in the ZAMBASULTA region. This is pursuant to the directive of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio to bolster BOC’s campaign against smuggling and other customs fraud.

The apprehended vessel and its contents are under the custody of the BOC for proper disposition in violation of Section 1113 (a) of R.A. 10863 otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) of 2016 in relation to Section 117 and “Tobacco Exportation and Importation Rules and Regulations.” ###