The Bureau of Customs said it will continue its vigilance against smuggling to ensure that all duties and taxes are paid amid the increase in volume of imports expected to arrive during the holiday season.
This after a raid conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) at a warehouse in Bulacan resulted in the seizure of more than P5 billion worth of cigarettes.
Alvin Enciso, the chief of CIIS-MICP, said: “We do not want to be a haven for counterfeit items. That is not the kind of message we want to send potential investors and even tourists. More so, that is not what the Marcos administration wants the country’s reputation to be.”
“We have the manpower, the resources, and the technology to counter these illegal activities. There is no place in the Philippines for this and any organization that tries to pursue smuggling under our watch will have the law to answer to,” he added.
The “ber months” period – a reference to the months of September, October, November, and December — is a critical time for Customs as unscrupulous traders try to take advantage of the high volume of imports to sneak in illegal goods.
