100 boxes of smuggled cigarettes intercepted in Sipalay

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Southern Negros Occidental intercepted at least 100 boxes of assorted smuggled cigarettes at the Old Pantalan, Barangay Cartagena, Sipalay City early Thursday morning.

Lt. Junior Grade James Carbajosa, commander of PCG-Southern Negros Occidental, said they acted on information about the alleged illegal transport of assorted cigarettes from Mindanao to the province.

When they responded, they sighted a boat boarded by six crew members and about 15 persons unloading the cigarettes from the boat past 2 a.m.

When these individuals sighted the presence of authorities, they scattered and fled to the mountains adjacent to the sea.

Carbajosa said the abandoned boat was damaged by huge waves causing several boxes of cigarettes to scatter at the shoreline.

Clean-up was immediately conducted and the confiscated items were brought to the station for the inventory of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Carbajosa said that all 21 individuals are at large and remain unidentified. He added that the six boat crews reportedly traveled from Basilan.

He said that it’s possible that these smuggled items will be distributed to various areas in the province.

“We are very eager in our district to intercept these illegal activity and contraband,” Carbajosa said, adding that these cigarettes did not undergo the proper process.

He did not declare the amount of the recovered items as inventory is ongoing.

On Nov. 16, PHP13,200 worth of smuggled cigarettes were also confiscated by police while being sold in a public market in Himamaylan City.

Last September, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Negros Island Region (CIDG-NIR) also apprehended a 41-year-old Chinese national for the confiscation of PHP7.825 million worth of smuggled cigarettes here.