MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported the seizure of undeclared cigarettes worth about PHP235 million during a cargo inspection at the Port of Batangas.
According to the agency, inspectors conducted a physical examination on March 5 and found 637 cases of cigarettes branded “MAC” inside a container that lacked the proper importation permits.
Authorities also discovered that the consignee named in the shipment records was not accredited to import tobacco products, raising suspicions that the cargo was intended to bypass import regulations.
The operation was initiated after the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service received intelligence about a shipment originating from the United Arab Emirates believed to contain cigarettes.
Investigators identified the cargo vessel M/V Ever Cast as the ship transporting the container to Batangas.
Initial documentation checks showed that the container did not appear in the vessel’s Bill of Lading, Inward Foreign Manifest, or Discharge List, prompting authorities to conduct further cargo inspections.
Following continuous monitoring of incoming vessels, customs personnel confirmed that the container was aboard the M/V Ever Cast when it docked on Feb. 14.
Before the container was unloaded, the BOC–Port of Batangas issued a pre-lodgement control order to ensure the shipment would be subjected to detailed inspection.
The importation is now being investigated for potential violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, including provisions covering misdeclaration and unauthorized importation of regulated goods.
elamigo/
