Anti-smuggling campaign lauded

MAYOR BENG Climaco lauded the Bureau of Customs and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies involved in the government’s campaign against smuggling.

Photos by the Bureau of Customs show the smuggled cigarettes prior to its destruction. The Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga under District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. recently destroyed some P545-million worth of smuggled cigarettes and raw materials in the illegal manufacture of cigarettes. It also handed over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue some P1 billion in fake revenue stamps. (Caption: Zamboanga Post)

Climaco also warned smugglers to stop their nefarious activities because the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them. “There will be no stopping in the government’s campaign against smugglers. It’s either we get you or you stop your illegal activities for good,” she said.

The Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga under District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. recently destroyed some P545-million worth of smuggled cigarettes and raw materials in the illegal manufacture of cigarettes. It also handed over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue some P1 billion in fake revenue stamps.

The assorted cigarettes were seized in separate anti-smuggling operations since May in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, according to Barte.

While the counterfeit internal revenue stamps were seized from the series of apprehensions in May in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur. 

Barte said the aggressive anti-smuggling campaign, as well as destruction of the contraband, is a firm directive from Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero. “This serves as a warning to smugglers that we are committed in performing our mandate to protect the borders from illicit trade and customs fraud,” he said.

Barte also commended the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy, National Bureau of Investigation, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, the military and the local government of Zamboanga, and other stakeholders for their support and active cooperation in the anti-smuggling campaign. (Zamboanga Post)

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