MANILA – Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio issued a stern warning that “heads will roll” if BOC personnel are found involved in the illegal resale of P270 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from Capas, Tarlac.
The seized cigarettes, confiscated at the Port of Subic between July 2021 and June 2022, were abandoned and slated for disposal in 2023.
However, an attempted illegal resale was uncovered, allegedly linked to a shift change involving personnel from the Auction and Cargo Disposal Unit (ACDU), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Port of Subic.
In response, Rubio ordered an immediate investigation by the CIIS and pledged full cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in tracking down any culprits.
“I have directed the CIIS to investigate this matter and report to me immediately,” Rubio said. “The NBI has our full support, and I assure you, anyone involved will be held accountable. Heads will roll.”
The BOC confirmed that Hazchem North was the disposal firm contracted for the seized goods, with its owner now under investigation. Rubio emphasized that corruption within the agency would not be tolerated and vowed that any involved insiders would face the full force of the law.
ia/mnm
