Manila:The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has revealed the discovery of 320 boxes of branded cigarettes valued at PHP29 million, hidden within a shipment falsely declared as scrap metal at the Manila North Harbor subport.

According to Philippines News Agency, the containers, which originated from Zamboanga, were subjected to spot checks with the assistance of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 unit. This led to the discovery of Astro and Redwood cigarettes, with an estimated market value of PHP29.17 million. One container contained illicit cigarettes, while the other was found to have white cigarette filters in boxes marked with Chinese characters.

The inconsistency between the shipment's declared contents and the actual goods was noted. BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized that misdeclaration cannot hide the true nature of shipments or evade customs and tax obligations. He affirmed the bureau's commitment to intensifying inspections and intelligence operations to prevent illegal products from bypassing customs.

The BOC's actions are part of an ongoing effort to enhance intelligence-driven inspections and collaboration with other agencies to identify and stop misdeclared and potentially illicit shipments before they enter the market. The agency's heightened monitoring aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to bolster border protection, secure government revenue, and enforce laws against smuggling and illicit trade.