In a stern warning issued over the weekend, Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) declared that severe consequences await any BOC personnel found complicit in the attempted resale of smuggled cigarettes valued at P270 million. The contraband, which was originally seized in Capas, Tarlac, has sparked a major investigation into potential corruption within the agency.
Rubio has taken immediate action by ordering the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. He has also pledged full cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to ensure a comprehensive probe. “I have already instructed the Intelligence Group’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to delve into this issue and provide me with an immediate report. We are fully cooperating with the NBI, and I assure you that anyone found to be involved will face accountability. Heads will roll,” Rubio stated firmly in a press release on Saturday.
The smuggled cigarettes in question were seized at the Port of Subic between July 2021 and June 2022. They were consigned to Hongcim International Corp. and Proline Logistics Philippines Inc. and were subsequently abandoned and slated for disposal in 2023. The alleged attempt to illegally resell these items reportedly occurred during a shift change involving personnel from the Auction and Cargo Disposal Unit (ACDU), the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the CIIS at the Port of Subic, who were overseeing the condemnation process.
The BOC has identified Hazchem North as the disposal firm responsible for handling the cigarettes. The owner of Hazchem North is currently under investigation for their potential role in the scandal. Rubio emphasized the agency’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, stating, “We will not tolerate corruption within our ranks. If insiders are involved, they will face the full force of the law.”
This incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the customs disposal process and the potential involvement of BOC personnel in illegal activities. The outcome of the investigation could lead to significant changes in how the BOC manages seized goods and enforces its policies to prevent future incidents of corruption.