Customs raid yields P1.4 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes in Sulu

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized illegally imported cigarettes said to be worth P1.4 billion at a warehouse in Indanan, Sulu.

The operation on Thursday yielded 19,000 master cases of assorted imported cigarettes at the warehouse in Sitio Buotan, Kajatian.

Authorities brought the confiscated cigarettes to the port of Zamboanga through a Philippine Navy vessel, according to the BOC.

Customs examiners have started the inventory of goods, which was witnessed by CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) agents and warehouse representatives.

The composite team was composed of CIIS-MICP, Western Mindanao Command-Armed Forces of the Philippines (WESMINCOM-AFP), 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (11ID PA), Philippine Air Force-Special Operations Wing (PAF-SPOW), Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu, Philippine Navy-Naval Special Operations Unit (PN-NAVSOU), and PN Naval Forces Mindanao. —NB, GMA Integrated News