The Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced that four individuals have been convicted by the Regional Trial Court of Manila in two separate smuggling cases involving the illegal importation of cigarettes and motor vehicles.

According to the agency, the convictions demonstrate the government's continued efforts to protect state revenues, strengthen border security, support legitimate businesses, and hold those involved in illegal trade accountable.

In the first case, one individual was found guilty of using YJC International Corporation as a consignee-for-hire to facilitate the unlawful importation of two 40-foot containers from China that arrived in January 2021.

The shipment was declared as plastic products, but Customs inspectors discovered 1,599 cartons of cigarettes concealed inside without the required import clearances.The court imposed an indeterminate prison sentence ranging from 12 years and one day to 15 years and one day for each count.

In a separate case, the president, vice president, and corporate secretary of ADNFinest Marketing Corporation were convicted for illegally importing motor vehicles from Dubai in May 2021.Although the shipment declared only two vehicles, Customs officers found an undeclared 2020 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 98 unmanifested used tires.Prosecutors also established that the company lacked the required Certificate of Authority to Import motor vehicles.Each of the three corporate officers was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of six years and one day to 10 years and one day.Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the convictions send a clear message that violations of customs laws carry serious consequences.He also commended the BOC Legal Service and the Department of Justice for their coordination in prosecuting the cases.

The BOC added that it will continue pursuing criminal cases against smugglers and strengthening border enforcement in line with the government's anti-smuggling campaign.