The Manila Times
A SUSPECTED smuggling hub packed with P174 million worth of illicit goods was raided by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the bureau said Thursday. Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla said operatives of the BOC and the PNP raided a warehouse believed to be a distribution point for illegally imported vape products and other contraband based on gathered intelligence. Maronilla said that found inside the warehouse were vape products, machinery, electronic devices, imported medicines, food items, apparel, cosmetics, and LED lighting equipment, suggesting a large-scale, multi-product smuggling operation. Authorities estimated the total value of the seized items at P174,863,576.94. Investigators believe the goods originated from China and were brought into the country without the required import permits, duties, and regulatory clearances. Maronilla said the operations were indicative of sophisticated methods used by smuggling syndicates to evade detection. He noted that unaccounted goods not only undermine legitimate businesses but also deprive the government of revenue. The BOC is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to build cases against the perpetrators. Maronilla said the operation aligns with the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify the campaign against smuggling. “What concerns us most is that these products, if they make their way into our markets and homes, may pose serious risks to the health and safety of our people,” Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.
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