P791-M yosing ilegal, vape products, nasabat ng BoC-MICP

NASABAT ng Bureau of Customs – Manila International Container Port (BoC-MICP) nitong kahapon Martes, 14 Mayo 2024, ang tatlong cargo containers na naglalaman ng tinatayang  P791 milyong halaga ng ipinagbabawal na mga sigarilyo at vape products na may iba’t ibang brands mula Singapore.

Ang pagkakatuklas ng tinaguriang ‘illicit items’ ay nag-ugat sa derogatory information na natanggap ng  Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – MICP (CIIS-MICP) sa ilalim ni Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy.

Nabatid sa ulat, ang kargamento ay dumating sa  MICP noong 11 May 2024.

Sinasabing ang kargamento ay naglalaman ng 3,845 cases ng tobacco products, ngunit nang isailalim sa  physical examination, lumalabas na ito ay   naglalaman  ng 4,215 master cases of cigarettes at 1,053 master cases of heat sticks.

Dagdag rito, napag-alaman na ang subject cigarettes at heat sticks ay walang mandatory printed graphic health warnings sa packaging malinaw na paglabag sa RA 11900 o Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act of 2022 na ipinatutupad ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Administrative Order No. 22-16 series of 2022 at RA 10643 o The Graphic Health Warnings Law of 2014.

Sa ginawang beripikasyon sa National Tobacco Administration (NTA), natuklasan na ang naka-record na consignee ay hindi registered importer ng tobacco at iba pang tobacco related products, na paglabag sa  NTA Board Resolution 079-2005.

Ang MICP, sa ilalim ng liderato ni  District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan ay patuloy na susmuuporta sa direktiba ni BoC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio sa pinaigting na pagmamatyag kontra smuggling attempts, kabilang ang ‘active prosecution of corresponding criminal and administrative cases against personalities involved.’

Sinabi ni Commissioner Rubio, “Our vigilant team is committed in upholding regulations and safeguarding consumers from potentially hazardous consumer products. This seizure aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to beef up our anti-smuggling efforts against illicit vape and tobacco products.”

Isang Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) ang ipalalabas laban sa nasabing  shipment dahil sa paglabag sa violation of Section 117 (Regulated Importation) in relation to Section 1113 of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), RA 11900 o Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act of 2022 as implemented by DTI Administrative Order No. 22-16 series of 2022, RA 10643 o The Graphic Health Warnings Law of 2014 and NTA Board Resolution no 079-2005. (BONG SON)