MANILA – Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials at the Port of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and representatives of a cigarette manufacturer led the destruction of close to 50,000 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP30 million on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday, District Collector lawyer Elvira Cruz said the items were destroyed inside the Digama Warehouse and Destruction Facility in Barangay Bayabas in Cagayan de Oro City.
A total of 48,850 reams of cigarettes loaded in 977 master cases were destroyed using shredder equipment.
The shipment, consigned to a certain Lorna Oftana from General Santos City, was apprehended based on the received derogatory information from law enforcement agencies against the shipment.
It was earlier declared as personal effects upon arrival at Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental last May 20.
The consignee was charged with the violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Section 1400 (Misdeclaration). (PNA)
Source: Philippines News Agency