The Philippine Navy has intercepted a motorboat loaded with P160 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Tawi-Tawi following intelligence reports from the Bureau of Customs.
Navy officers and crew members of ship BRP Jose Loor Sr. took into custody M/B Indah Nadz with 12 crews on board in the vicinity of Baturapac Island in Tandubas where they found 2,798 master cases of Oakley Original Cigarettes.
“The team intercepted and inspected the vessel loaded with master cases of assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes after receiving information from our intelligence group and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in Zamboanga,” said Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio.
Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said the final inventory of the goods conducted by Customs personnel was made on Wednesday, the same day the vessel was intercepted.
“The total value of the illegally imported cigarettes is about P160,325,400 based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s regulation ofP57,300 per master case,” he added.
The motor boat, valued at P3 million, was also included in the inventory. CIIS director Verne Enciso said the team that inspected the boat did not originally expect to see smuggled cigarettes since the information it received was that it contained smuggled fuel.
“But this was not the case because it became immediately clear to our agents that the boat was carrying what could be smuggled cigarettes if the owner fails to present the proper documents,” Enciso said.
“When we verified the information about this, we immediately coordinated with the Philippine Navy for sea operations. They were on a Marpat en route patrol to Tandubas Island, which was near where the motor boat was eventually apprehended,” he added.
The latest operation came a month after the Customs officials met with leading cigarette manufacturers and discussed strategies for further improving the government’s campaign against tobacco smuggling.
“These groups (illegal traders) have been very creative and aggressive in entering our markets, so our cooperation with tobacco companies is aimed at answering these with even more comprehensive methods to intercept their modus operandi,” said Commissioner Rubio.