Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led an inspection on March 13, 2026, of a shipment containing ₱235 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from the United Arab Emirates at the Port of Batangas. The physical examination revealed 637 cases of cigarettes bearing the brand MAC that were not covered by proper importation documents.
The shipment, labeled MAC Super Slim Ice Cool Blast Cigarettes, lacked required Graphic Health Warnings, violating Republic Act No. 10643, and did not bear the required Bureau of Internal Revenue internal revenue stamps. Further verification showed that the consignee was not authorized to import cigarettes.
Following the examination findings, a Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued for violations of Sections 117 and 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Nepomuceno emphasized that the BOC's intelligence-driven enforcement campaign against illicit tobacco trade will remain relentless, warning that "those who attempt to exploit the country's borders for illegal trade will face the full force of the law".
From January 1 to March 6, 2026, the bureau recorded 127 successful cigarette-related interdictions, resulting in the seizure of approximately ₱2 billion worth of illicit cigarettes nationwide. The BOC continues to strengthen coordination with partner law enforcement agencies to pursue a coordinated approach in combating illicit tobacco trade.
