Major players in the tobacco industry have expressed relief and gratitude following the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) successful seizure of P83.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in a warehouse raid in Barangay Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan.
Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) and Japan Tobacco International (Philippines) Inc. (JTI) both praised the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service at the Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), the lead agency behind the 24 April operation.
“Your successful operations… are a testament to your dedication and effectiveness. Keep up the outstanding work in safeguarding our country’s interests,” said Joseph Dizon, intelligence and investigation security officer of PMPMI, whose company, in partnership with Fortune Tobacco Corp., commands over half of the domestic cigarette market with brands like Marlboro and Fortune.
JTI counsel Raoul Fernandez echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the leadership of BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio. “We extend our congratulations to the BOC-CIIS, Port of MICP, its members and officials… on their recent successful seizure of several illicit and counterfeit cigarettes,” he said. JTI, maker of Winston and Mighty, holds around 43 percent of the market.
The CIIS-MICP seized 717 master cases of various illicit cigarette brands including Modern, TS, Two Moon, Tattoo, Fort, H&P, Xplore, Carnival, Concord, RGD, Marvels, Chesterfields, and New Orleans. Six trucks found loaded with cigarettes were also impounded.
Alvin Enciso, CIIS-MICP field station chief, welcomed the recognition from the private sector. “We are grateful for the recognition and the support by our partners in the industry… We will not stop until we go after every smuggling organization out there by all means possible,” he said.
Warehouse owners or representatives have been given 15 days to present legal importation documents. Failure to comply will result in charges under Republic Act 10963, also known as the TRAIN Law.
The BOC also confirmed it will file additional cases under Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which now includes tobacco among protected agricultural products. Smuggling and related offenses under this law are treated as economic sabotage.
