AUTHORITIES seized around P76 million worth of suspected fake cigarettes at the Port of Cebu, Thursday, June 11, 2020.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu, on Thursday, seized a total of 1,522 boxes of suspected fake Mighty and Marvels brand cigarettes.

The Bureau said the shipment arrived from China on Wednesday, June 10. It was consigned to Giomab Trading and was misdeclared as “oval dish."

Prior to the seizure, a pre-lodgement control order was issued on the shipment on the basis of a derogatory report from IO3 Carlo A. Bautista, Chief of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Cebu Field Station, the bureau said.

During a complete physical examination, the shipment was confirmed to contain undeclared cigarettes.

Lawyer Charlito Martin R. Mendoza, Acting District Collector, then issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the entire shipment for violation of Section 1401 “Unlawful Importation or Exportation” in relation to Section 1113 “Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture” of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. (WBS/With PR)