THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized around P1 billion worth of counterfeit cigarettes and tax stamps in a warehouse in Victoria Alicia, Isabela last Saturday.
The BOC said in a statement yesterday this is a result of its intensified campaign against smuggled and counterfeit goods.
“The raid resulted to the seizure of counterfeit cigarettes and tax stamps with an initial estimated value of P1 billion,” the BOC said.
“The operation uncovered the counterfeiting of foreign tax stamps indicating that the cigarettes were also being exported to other countries. An inventory of the seized goods is currently being conducted with the warehouse placed under strict guarding,” the agency added.
The BOC said it is committed to curb the illegal import and export of prohibited and counterfeit goods.
The agency also said in a separate statement yesterday it condemned 8.7 tons of illegally imported medicines, cosmetics, cigarettes and electronic goods in Trece Martires, Cavite last May 29.
“The hazardous goods arrived thru different warehouses without proper permits and clearances. The said goods cannot be sold thru public auction for being unfit for consumption,” the BOC said.
The goods were destroyed using the Thermal Decomposer Facility of the Integrated Waste Management Inc. to make sure the items will not be not sold or made available in the market.
The BOC also intercepted on May 28 various assorted fake cigarettes, raw tobacco materials, and cigarette packing machines in Naguilian, Isabela, with an estimated value of P1.3 billion.
The BOC said initial inventory showed there are roughly 2,000 master cases of assorted cigarettes; 10 units of cigarette-making machines, 12 units of cigarette packing machines and 300 boxes of tobacco raw materials stored inside the subject warehouse.
The said goods were immediately intercepted by customs for lack of permit and violation of customs laws, rules and regulations.
