BOC confiscates P3.58M worth of cigarettes in Lanao del Norte

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated 4,300 reams of undocumented cigarettes worth an estimated P3.58 million in Lanao del Norte.

Operatives from the Port of Cagayan de Oro issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention on July 25, 2024, for the smuggled items found in Kapatagan and Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

The confiscated cigarettes and the vehicles used for their transport were seized for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Rules and Regulations.

Since May 2024, the BOC Port of CDO, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army, has apprehended an estimated P29.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Northern Mindanao and adjacent provinces.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio emphasized that improved coordination with law enforcement agencies is crucial for strengthening border security against illicit trade.