CIGARETTES are the top contraband products in the Port of Davao after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Davao Region conducted several operations this year.
BOC-Davao chief collector lawyer Erastus Austria, in an interview, said the bureau seized at least 2,500 cigarette cases from January to September this year worth almost P100,000.
Austria said the confiscated cigarettes were shipped from other Asian countries through illegal importers and distributors in the country.
"We do not understand why those involved in the illegal importation of cigarettes continue to ship and sell it when they know that it will not be tolerated here," he said.
Most of the confiscated cigarettes were seized upon the search and confiscate operations conducted by both BOC 11 and Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao in warehouses inside Davao City through Warrant of Seizure and Detention.
The Customs said it will send a letter for condemnation to the BOC central office by month's end to seek permission to destroy confiscated cigarettes through a grinding process.
"All importers and exporters are required to keep their documents of importation and exportation for five years as BOC may demand it anytime even if the products are already outside the port," BOC-Davao said.
Aside from the illegal entry of cigarettes, ukay-ukay clothes have also been a famous contraband in the port this year.
Austria said the port was able to seize not more than three container vans every two months this year, which now has become a big problem in the port as the clothes are being disposed and piled inside the port area.
"We want to donate all of these to Marawi City but we cannot because the Department of Social Welfare and Development has already closed clothing donations," he said.
The ukay-ukay clothes are planned to be auctioned but BOC-Davao is still waiting for the approval from the central office.
Austria said the auction for the ukay-ukay clothes will be a great help for the Bureau to raise its revenue as mandated by BOC Chief Isidro Lapeña.
When asked on other existing ukay-ukay sellers in Davao City, he said the importers may have transported the items in other means such as land transit.
BOC-Davao, however, assured the public that they will strictly monitor and stop the entry of all contraband goods in the region despite lack of manpower and facilities.
"We have to protect our local manufacturers, farmers, and producers against these illegal foreign sellers as our local industry has to be the topmost priority in our country," Austria said.