P1.9B worth of dried tobacco, fake goods seized in Bulacan

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized P1.94 billion worth of dried tobacco and fake goods in two warehouses in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

On Saturday, the BOC said the first warehouse inspected on November 6 yielded P1.25 billion worth of smuggled items.

These items include used clothing and shoes, intellectual property rights infringing goods, branded bags, toys, electric fans, wireless speakers, steel sheets, plastic resins, housewares, and kitchenware.

Meanwhile, authorities found in another warehouse on November 8 dried tobacco in sacks and cigarette filter rods that can make P694.4 million worth of 6,944 master cases of cigarettes.

“Initially, the warehouse was closed when the team returned on November 8. There was also no representative to acknowledge the Letter of Authority (LOA). But with the barangay and compound representatives present, the team entered the warehouse and found raw materials to make tobacco,” said Verne Enciso, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director.

Padlocks were temporarily placed in the warehouse while the inventory of the goods was being scheduled.

The owners and operators of the warehouses were given 15 days from the service of the LOA to submit documents that show the imported goods were legitimately imported and correct duties and taxes were paid.

“An operation can only be truly successful if we are able to file and pursue cases against these individuals and organizations. For that to happen, we make sure to follow the proper rules and procedures, including the courtesy we extend to the owners of these goods to provide us proof that these did not enter the country illegally,” Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said.

Failure to present proper documents will result in charges for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, and Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN Law).

The owners of the smuggled dried tobacco products will also face charges for violating the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

Under the law, agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and engaging in cartels are classified as economic sabotage.  — Mariel Celine Serquiña/VBL, GMA Integrated News