THE Bureau of Customs (BOC), through its Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Port of Limay, together with operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bataan Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Unit (PNP-DEU), and PNP Limay, seized smuggled cigarettes in Limay, Bataan.
The joint operation stemmed from information received by the ESS District Office of the Port from the ESS Headquarters for alleged transportation of illegal drugs onboard a container van.
Upon inspection of the container van, the combined team found a 1×20’ container with an estimated 400 master cases of smuggled Gem cigarettes.
The PDEA immediately conducted sweeping inside the container through its K-9 units and to the master cases of cigarettes, wherein PDEA Narcotics Detection Dogs found no traces of illegal drugs.
The cigarettes and truck were secured by ESS Personnel and the arrested personalities were subjected to investigation and inquest proceedings for possible violation of Section 1113 of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).