Around 3,000 cases of abandoned cigarettes, amounting to over P129 million, were destroyed from three containers in Santa Maria, Bulacan, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
In its statement on Wednesday, the BOC said its Port of Subic disposed of the assorted-brand cigarettes through shredding and pyrolysis (melting through extreme heat) from July 28 to August 3 at its accredited disposal facility.
The bureau noted that it livestreamed the destruction process through the Port of Subic’s official YouTube account for the public to witness and ‘to ensure transparency and accountability.’
According to the BOC, the three 40-foot containers are part of the 10 identified containers of abandoned cigarettes with a total estimated value of P413 million that the bureau intends to dispose of.
The bureau said it is also in the process of disposing the contents of the remaining seven containers.
The ongoing destructions are still being livestreamed and conducted according to established disposal procedures, said the BOC.