ZAMBOANGA CITY – Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero ordered on Tuesday the immediate destruction of about 7,000 cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P210 million.
Bureau of Customs (BoC) Zamboanga City District Collector Segundo Barte, Jr., said the tobacco products had been seized by police and military authorities in Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa) area since June last year.
Barte said the seized cigarettes were part of the relentless campaign against the entry of imported tobacco products to this city.
Among the brands of imported cigarettes that were destroyed include Canon, Fort, Marlboro, Modern, Canyon, Royal, Siagon, King Absolute, and Union.
Barte also sought the help of Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco in the destruction of the imported cigarettes since BoC has “no accredited condemnation facility” in this city.
According to Barte, Mayor Climaco sent two dump trucks and a pay loader of the city government to help BoC in disposing of the destroyed contraband. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
