THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) tightened its grip on seized contraband, destroying five containers of smuggled cigarettes in Pampanga and disposing of seven more vans of forfeited goods in Laguna amid heightened scrutiny over its handling.
The five containers of cigarettes were destroyed at a disposal facility in Porac, Pampanga, in an operation involving the BOC, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and National Tobacco Administration.
The BOC did not release an official valuation of the shipment, although similar seizures have been estimated at tens of millions of pesos.
A Task Force Aduana-Port Interdiction Unit team, composed of personnel from BOC enforcement and intelligence units, carried out the operation with the assistance of the PCG and other government agencies.
Among those who took part were BOC special agent Lucky Joy Solmayor and technical support staff Alexander Arroyo Jr., who are reportedly under investigation over an Aug. 19 incident in Santa Maria, Bulacan.
The two personnel were linked to allegations that they attempted to sell 225 boxes of confiscated cigarettes that had been earmarked for destruction. The allegations prompted BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno to order an internal investigation.
In a separate operation, the BOC-Port of Manila disposed of seven containers containing more than P1.65 million worth of seized and forfeited goods in Biñan, Laguna.
Among the condemned goods were grocery products, deteriorated LED lights, furniture, medical supplies, mattresses, toothbrushes, household items and personal effects.
The shipments had been forfeited in favor of the government for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and the Intellectual Property Code, among other customs violations.
The Port of Manila operation was conducted under district collector Rizalino Jose Torralba as the bureau continues its broader enforcement campaign under Nepomuceno.
Nepomuceno said that tightening that entire chain is critical to preventing seized products from reentering the market, protecting legitimate businesses and consumers, and ensuring that enforcement actions translate into actual removal of illicit goods from circulation.
The bureau, Nepomuceno further said, will continue working with other government agencies to strengthen border controls, protect government revenues and disrupt the flow of smuggled goods into the country.