PhP791-M halaga ng illicit cigarettes at vape products, nasabat ng BOC-MICP

NASABAT ng Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) nitong Martes, May 14, 2024, ang tatlong (3) containers na naglalaman ng tinatayang PhP791-M halaga ng illicit cigarettes at vape products na may iba’t-ibang brands mula sa Singapore, sa pamumuno ni Intelligence Officer III Alvin Enciso.
Nag-ugat ito sa isang derogatory information na natanggap ng Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) ng MICP sa ilalim ni Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy.
Nabatid sa ulat na ang mga kargamento ay dumating sa MICP noong May 11, 2024 at sinasabing naglalaman ng 3,845 cases ng tobacco products.
Subalit nang isailalim sa ang mga ito sa physical examination, lumalabas na naglalaman ito ng 4,215 master cases ng sigarilyo at 1,053 master cases ng heat sticks.
Dagdag pa rito, napag-alaman na ang subject cigarettes at heat sticks ay walang mandatory printed graphic health warnings sa packaging na malinaw na paglabag sa R.A. 11900 o “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act of 2022” na ipinatutupad ng Department of Trade and Industry bisa ng Administrative Order No. 22-16 series of 2022 at RA 10643 o “The Graphic Health Warnings Law of 2014.”
Sa ginawang verification naman sa National Tobacco Administration (NTA), natuklasan na ang consignee ng record ay hindi registered importer ng tobacco at iba pang tobacco related products, na paglabas sa NTA Board Resolution 079-2005.
Ang MICP, sa ilalim ng liderato ni District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan ay patuloy na susuporta sa direktiba ni BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio sa pinaigting na pagmamatyag kontra smuggling attempts, kabilang na ang active prosecution of corresponding criminal and administrative cases against personalities involved.
“Our vigilant team is committed in upholding regulations and safeguarding consumers from potentially hazardous consumer products. This seizure aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to beef up our anti-smuggling efforts against illicit vape and tobacco products,” ani Commissioner Rubio.
Isang Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) ang ipapalabas laban sa nasabing shipment bilang paglabag sa violation of Section 117 (Regulated Importation) in relation to Section 1113 of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), RA 11900 or the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act of 2022” as implemented by Department of Trade Industry (DTI) Administrative Order No. 22-16 series of 2022, RA 10643 or “The Graphic Health Warnings Law of 2014 and NTA Board Resolution no 079-2005. (BONG SON)