PCG seizes P32.7M worth of smuggled cigarettes at North Harbor

On Friday, March 14, authorities seized P32.7 million worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes during inspections at North Harbor in Manila.

A joint team from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) found 83 boxes of cigarettes in an undeclared container at Pier 14, following a similar seizure on March 5 involving P15.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.

Both containers arrived at the Port of Manila on February 27, raising suspicions due to their undeclared status and prompting coordinated inspections by law enforcement agencies.

The PCG has been conducting round-the-clock monitoring and security at North Harbor since the arrival of the undeclared containers to safeguard other cargo.

Authorities sealed both containers for full inventory and further investigation, with potential violations of customs laws and falsification of documents under scrutiny.

Captain Vincent Laca from the PCG stated that intelligence reports months prior indicated smuggled cigarettes were being transported from Zamboanga to Manila via a passenger-cargo vessel.

Further actions are underway to identify those responsible for the smuggling activities, marking the first such interception by the PCG at the Port of Manila this year.