The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized ₱39.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and dried tobacco products concealed in six container vans on Thursday.

The operation yielded multiple brands of cigarettes—Platinum, Lasa, King Philip, H&P Red Premium, Cannon Menthol, and Modern Brand—and hundreds of unmarked sacks of dried tobacco. These lacked the required Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps, graphic health warnings, and proper markings. This cargo was falsely declared as dried fish and general merchandise.

Prompted by intelligence information, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) coordinated with port authorities and shipping lines for the tagging, monitoring, and inspection of six container vans from Zamboanga and Bacolod, and bound for Manila.

The van contents were examined at the Sub-Port of North Harbor with representatives from concerned government agencies and port authorities present.

The operation was carried out by the Bureau’s Intelligence Group (CIIS, Enforcement Group), ESS, and Manila International Container Port (MICP), who worked closely with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and other law enforcement agencies concerned with preventing the illicit entry of unregulated tobacco products into the domestic market.