Operatives Of A Working Group Assigned To Curb Rampant Cigarette Smuggling In Mindanao Raided A Big Grocery In Maragusan Town, Davao De Oro Allegedly Owned By Two Government Officials.
The Raid Was Part Of The Renewed And Sustained Operations By Local Officials And Law Enforcement Authorities In Response To A Directive Issued By President Bongbong Marcos Against Smuggling.
In Its Updated Accomplishment Report, “Oplan Megashopper,” A Buy-Bust Scheme To Curtail The Rampant Cigarette Smuggling And Sale Of Illicit Cigarettes In Mindanao Said The Maragusan Raid Seized Six Cases Of President, An Illegal Brand Of Cigarettes.
The August 2 Raid Was Conducted By Bureau Of Customs (Boc) District Commander Of Enforcement And Security Services Jah Atencia, Under The Supervision Of Boc Davao District Collector Atty. Erastus Austria. The Raiding Team Was Joined By The Philippine Navy – Eastern Mindanao Command.
In Other Simultaneous Raids, The Joint Forces Of Boc And The Philippine Navy Confiscated 12 Cases Of Assorted Illegal Brands Of Cigarettes In The Towns Of Sto. Tomas, Dujali And Talaingod In Davao Del Norte.
Seized Brands Of Hot Items Were Soda, Fort, Canon, Wilson, New Orleans, President, Royal, New Aris And Delta.
Operatives Likewise Raids Stalls Of 13 Wholesalers Of Illicit Cigarettes In Tagum City And Carmen, Davao Del Norte.
Meanwhile, In Checkpoint Operations, The Task Force Davao And The Davao City Pnp Scored A Number Of Suspect Apprehensions On Board Vehicles Loaded With Assorted Illegal Brand Of Cigarettes.
In Two Separate Operations In Sirawan, Toril, The Task Force Davao And The Davao City Pnp Confiscated A Total Of 677 Cartons Of Assorted Illegal Brands Of Cigarettes, 599 Of Which Were Dreamon Brand.
Another Checkpoint Apprehension, This Time By Task Group Falcon With The Afp And Pnp, Seized 550 Cartons Of Canon Menthol Cigarette With A Street Value Of P275,000. Four Suspects Were Arrested.
Still In Sirawan Checkpoint, Task Force Davao Hauled Off 85 Cases Or 4,250 Cartons Of Wilson, Another Illegal Brand Of Cigarette With An Estimated Street Value Of P2.1 Million.
Another 25 Reams Of Illegal Brands Astro And Fort Were Seized In The Same Checkpoint.
Col. Daren Comia, The Task Force Davao Commander Vowed To Continue The Intensified Checkpoint Operations In All Border Control Points Within Their Jurisdiction To Prevent The Entry Of Illegal Items In Their Turf.
Legitimate Cigarettes Are Required To Affix On Its Packs Bir Tax Stamp With A Vinta Or Tarsier Design And A Graphic Health Warning And Text Warning Both In English And Tagalog.
Comia Underscored The Importance Of Curbing Cigarette Smuggling To Boost Both The Local And National Economies.
Earlier, Economist And Albay Rep. Joey Salceda Claimed That The Government Is Losing An Estimated P30 Billion Annually Due To Cigarette Smuggling.
