Tobacco firms hail smuggled cigarette bust

Following the seizure of P83.7 million worth of smuggled tobacco products in Bulacan last week, tobacco firms, namely Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. (PMPM) and Japan Tobacco International, parent company of Winston and Camel, among others, commended the Bureau of Customs’ Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (BOC-CIIS-MICP) for their quick action taken against the owners of the contraband warehouse.

“Congratulations BOC-CIIS MICP Field Station! Excellent work, BOC-CIIS Field Station at the Port of MICP! Your successful operations yesterday at Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan are a testament to your dedication and effectiveness. Keep up the outstanding work in safeguarding our country's interests,” said PMPM Intelligence and Investigation Security Officer Joseph Dizon.

For his part, JTI counsel Atty. Raoul Fernandez particularly made mention of the role of BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio in the latest operation against illegally imported cigarettes.

“We extend our congratulations to the BOC-CIIS, Port of MICP, its members and officials, under the leadership of Comm. Bienvenido Y. Rubio, on their recent successful seizure of several illicit and counterfeit cigarettes, in Brgy. Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan,” he said.

On Thursday, 24 April 2025, the team from the CIIS-MICP found and seized P83.7 million worth of 717 mastercases of assorted branded cigarettes inside the warehouse, as well as six trucks loaded also with cigarettes in the Bulacan property.

The brands found were Modern, TS, Two Moon, Tattoo, Fort, H&P, Xplore, Carnival, Concord, RGD, Marvels, Chesterfields, and New Orleans.

CIIS-MICP Field Station chief Alvin Enciso acknowledged the recognition, emphasizing the need for the public and private sectors to work together to get to the bottom of these smuggling activities.

“We are grateful for the recognition and the support by our partners in the industry, but we would also like to assure that there will be more to come. We will not stop until we go after every smuggling organization out there by all means possible,” he said.

The owners and/or representatives of the warehouse will be given 15 days to present proper documents regarding the importation of the cigarettes.

Failure to present such documents will lead to charges for violating Republic Act 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Furthermore, the BOC will also be filing cases against the owners of the smuggled dried tobacco products under the newly signed Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

The law classifies agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and engaging in a cartel as acts of economic sabotage.