Manila, Sept. 24 -- Top Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials on Thursday inspected a record PHP3.2-billion shipment of imported cigarettes seized in this town, described by authorities as the largest cigarette-smuggling haul in the country's history.

BOC Deputy Commissioner Emmanuel Luis Licup, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Thomas Narcise and CIIS Northern Mindanao and Caraga Field Station chief Redford Surposa led the inspection at the Gothong Private Wharf here.

They were joined by Brig. Gen. Rolindo Suguilon, director of the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13).

Surposa said that authorities seized 54 container vans loaded with smuggled cigarettes during a joint operation by the BOC and the 1st Agu...