Manila, Oct. 26 -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized approximately 1,600 master cases of cigarettes without Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps at a private port and compound in Palauig, Zambales.

According to the BOC, the cigarettes were discovered inside four shipping containers during an interagency operation on October 20, 2026. Authorities initially detected a strong smell of tobacco coming from the containers.

Upon opening the containers in the presence of village representatives and police officers, operatives found cigarettes bearing the "Modern" brand that lacked the required BIR tax stamps.

The seized shipment is now under BOC custody. The containers have been resealed and padlocked while authorities conduct fur...