The Bureau of Customs seized some P30 million worth of smuggled cigarettes declared as personal effects at the Tagoloan port in Misamis Oriental.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) – CDO Field Station Chief IO1 Oliver Valiente said they received information from national intelligence agencies about the said shipment, prompting them to request an alert order from District Collector John Simon.
The shipment from China arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Tagoloan and was declared as personal effects.
However, upon examination, it was discovered the shipment contained P30 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.
The shipment was consigned to a certain Lorna Oftana from General Santos City, who is now being investigated for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Last year, BOC seized an estimated P110 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Mindanao.