Authorities seized 90 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of PHP2.7 million in separate anti-smuggling operations in this city, an official said.

Amanoding Esmail, district officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), said the smuggled cigarettes were seized Monday from a warehouse in Barangay San Pedro, this city and in a store in the public market here both owned by a Chinese businessman, who owns and manages the CY Marketing.

Esmail said the anti-smuggling operations were launched by a joint team of BIR and Bureau of Customs, backed by policemen from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9, and Regional Intelligence Division of the Philippine National Police.

Esmail said they launched the anti-smuggling operation following months of surveillance on the different warehouses based in this city.

He said the workers, who were at the warehouse and store failed, to present the necessary documents which led to the confiscation of the cigarettes.

The cigarettes, were possibly smuggled from either Malaysia or Indonesia, he said.

Esmail said the confiscated cigarettes will be subjected to “forfeiture proceedings” in relation to Executive Order 245 entitled, “Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products.” (PNA)