CUSTOMS authorities seized P980 million worth of illicit cigarettes concealed inside 25 container vans during a 2 July operation at a private wharf in Mandaue City, Cebu, delivering another major hit against the country’s illegal tobacco smuggling network.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of boc
Authorities intercepted nearly P900 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes after raiding 25 container vans Thursday night at the Gothong port yard in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Cebu.
The joint operation involved personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs Intelligence Group (BoC-IG), Bureau of Internal Revenue-Cebu (BIR-Cebu), Philippine National Police Regional Maritime Unit 7 (RMU-7), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Naval Intelligence and Security Group (NISG).
Intelligence operatives told DAILY TRIBUNE the latest seizure came on the heels of last week’s operation that led to the confiscation of 11 forty-foot container vans loaded with suspected illicit cigarettes in the Mandaue port area and Barangay Bacayan in Cebu City.
“This seizure is estimated to be worth around P900 million,” intelligence sources said.
BIR-Cebu regional director Douglas Rufino said authorities are now focusing on identifying those behind the shipment.
“As of latest, we are relying on the result of the NBI investigation regarding the identity of the importers. Meantime, we issued a letter request to the owner of the container yard for documents indicating who leased the premises, including invoices issued, if any. Next week, we might get a clearer picture,” Rufino said in an exclusive interview with Daily Tribune.
“We gave the concerned yard owner 10 days to comply. Otherwise, I will be forced to issue a subpoena,” he added.
DAILY TRIBUNE also sought comment from BIR commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza, but he had yet to respond as of posting time.
The NBI-Cebu District Office (NBI-CEBDO) said the operation stemmed from the successful interdiction conducted on 24 June, when authorities seized 11 container vans carrying suspected smuggled cigarettes in a coordinated operation involving the NBI, Coast Guard 7, Bureau of Customs 7, Mandaue City Police Office, and the PNP Maritime Group.
Following intelligence reports that additional shipments remained inside Gothong Wharf, NBI agents immediately coordinated with Gothong Shipping Lines and launched document verification, surveillance, and intelligence-gathering operations.
“Through extensive cross-matching of shipping documents and coordination with Gothong management, NBI-CEBDO initially identified 12 of the 25 containers. These were immediately padlocked, marked, and placed under 24-hour security to preserve evidentiary value and prevent theft, pilferage, or unauthorized access,” the NBI said in a statement.
Bureau of Customs personnel, armed with a Letter of Authority signed by Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, joined the operation. The remaining 13 container vans were subsequently located and inspected.
In the presence of representatives from the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, Mandaue police, CIDG, barangay officials, and NBI personnel, all 25 container vans were found to contain suspected illicit foreign-brand cigarettes.
The containers were immediately sealed pending full inventory, examination, and possible customs and criminal proceedings.
The NBI clarified that Gothong Shipping Lines fully cooperated throughout the operation by granting investigators access to shipping records and assisting authorities in locating the containers.
