Strengthened coordination between the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Davao and Philippine National Police (PNP), Davao de Oro Provincial Office confiscated 2,420 reams of “Gajah Baru” and “Canon” cigarettes and an Isuzu Travis Van both with a combined value of 1.83 million pesos at a checkpoint operation.
This is a result of the Port’s compliance to Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz’s priority program to increase revenue collection by preventing revenue leakages caused by smuggling of contrabands and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s economic agenda in upholding public order and safety by safeguarding the public from harmful consumption of unpermitted goods.
The items were immediately turned over to the custody of the BOC, while the suspects were placed under the custody of the PNP, Region Office 11. The bureau will file charges against the suspects for smuggling of illicit cigarettes.
BOC Davao District Collector, Atty. Erastus Sandino B. Austria already issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against the smuggled items for violating Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 and Section 400 of the Republic Act No. 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The items were seized at a checkpoint in Brgy. Poblacion, Maco, Davao de Oro on November 3, 2022.
