P3.2-B smuggled cigarettes seized

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Authorities seized an estimated P3.2 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes concealed inside 54 container vans at a port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, officials reported Thursday.

The joint operation was carried out by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Philippine National Police in the Caraga region as part of an intensified campaign against contraband entering through regional seaports.

Retired Police Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, BoC deputy commissioner, described the seizure as one of the agency’s major accomplishments in curbing illegal tobacco trade.

Customs officials took custody of all 54 shipping containers after inspecting the contents and discovering large quantities of suspected illegally imported cigarettes.

Licup commended collaborating law enforcement agencies for securing the shipments and preventing the illicit goods from reaching the domestic market.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the individuals or corporate entities behind the shipment, nor have they detailed the specific cigarette brands and exact box counts found in the containers.

The shipment will undergo further documentation, official valuation and legal proceedings to determine forfeiture and disposal in accordance with customs laws. Investigations remain ongoing to identify those responsible for the attempted smuggling scheme.