PASG joins probe of P120-million RP cigarettes smuggled into Ireland

MANILA, Philippines - The Presidential Anti Smuggling Group is closely working with the European Union (EU) authorities to expedite an investigation into P120 million cigarettes smuggled into Ireland.

PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar said the RP-EU joint investigation started after European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Investigations and Operations head Austin Rowan requested the assistance of Philippine authorities.

Villar said the Philippine probe team is headed by PASG-Task Force Subic deputy director Edmund Arugay, who is concurrently a deputy director of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Arugay said his team’s initial investigation turned up several names of businessmen operating in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Irish authorities recently seized general cargo vessel M/V Anne Scan that arrived at the Port of Greenore carrying P120 million worth of cigarettes misdeclared as animal feed. The vessel allegedly sailed from the Philippines on Sept. 15.

The contraband was considered the largest single seizure of cigarettes ever made in the EU, Villar said.

EU authorities said the cigarettes would have been sold for 50 million euros, resulting in a loss of about 40 million euros in taxes and excise duties.

Irish Customs officials said they waited until the consignment was delivered to an importer before they swooped down. Several premises in the Co Louth area, just south of the border with Northern Ireland, were raided.

“These were obviously destined for the Christmas market and if they had not been seized, there would have been a loss of legitimate income to the state,” Villar said, quoting spokesman for EU Minister of Justice Dermot Ahern.

Working with PASG are two investigators from OLAF and two from Ireland’s Customs Service.