Singson orders probe of Customs men in Ilocos Sur port for smuggling

By MydzSupnad

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur – This coastal town is abuzz with talks that unscrupulous officials of the Bureau of Customs are in cahoots with smugglers following the mysterious dumping again of highly-dutiable cigarettes into the coastal here.

Following this, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson has ordered the immediate investigation of the alleged smuggling of cigarettes at Salomage Port here following the discovery last week of around 1,000 boxes of cigarettes without payment of taxes to the government.

           

The questionable boxes of cigarettes were reportedly stored inside a warehouse at the Salomague Port.

 Singson expressed apprehension why the dumping of the cigarettes occurred since the operation of the Salomague Port is being supervised by the Bureau of Custom.

           

This was reportedly not the first time smuggling of cigarettes happened since dumping of untaxed contraband cigarettes had been the practice the past few years, whereby the government was cheated of millions of pesos in taxes.

           

Singson said Custom’s officials involved in smuggling cigarettes should be investigated and sacked immediately to prevent illegal activities at the port.

           

Ilocos Sur police director Senior Supt. Noel B. Amoyen told newsmen that the cigarettes stored at the port had “Run Man” markings indicating it was produced by Mighty Cigarette Manufacturing Company in Bulacan.

           

Amoyen said they held the 1,000 boxes of “Run Man” cigarette after noticing the absence of legal papers for its supposed transport to Vietnam.

           

The police officer said the warehouse of the port could have served as re-packaging site of the locally – manufactured cigarettes before these were transported to other countries.