14 nabbed in Negros illicit cigarette raid

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Authorities arrested 10 Chinese nationals and four Filipinos following an inspection of a trading firm in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday.

The Bago City Permits and Licensing Office, the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, the Bago City Police Station, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group conducted the joint inspection.

The operation led to the discovery of three loading machines, three packaging machines, and assorted paraphernalia allegedly used in the manufacture of illicit cigarettes.

Authorities also uncovered a warehouse in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, that was allegedly being used to store raw materials for illicit cigarette production.

Gasataya, along with other authorities, personally inspected the warehouse.

Thousands of boxes of packaging materials and other paraphernalia were found inside the facility.

Authorities have yet to determine the value of the seized materials and have not released additional details.

Col. Eugene Rebadomia, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, said authorities are still verifying information on the possible owner or renter of the warehouse.

“We are currently validating information and gathering data to identify those involved,” he added.

Rebadomia also underscored the importance of coordination between local government units and law enforcement agencies in combating illegal cigarette production.

“We need to intensify monitoring and collaboration, as operations of this scale cannot be uncovered without strong coordination,” he said.

Gasataya said the city would provide full support to stop activities that harm public health and the local business sector.

“We assure the people of Bacolod that there will be no letup in going after these illegal operations,” he added.

He also commended the police and other agencies for their continuing efforts to crack down on illegal activities in the city.

The operation followed the confiscation of PHP 138.5 million worth of illicit cigarettes and the arrest of 12 people in separate operations across Negros Island over two weeks.

Those operations included the seizure of PHP 25 million worth of illicit cigarettes in Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, and PHP 3.34 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Suay, Himamaylan City, on April 13.

Authorities also seized PHP 13.75 million worth of smuggled cigarettes on April 17 at a resort in Barangay Pook, Hinoba-an.

Another PHP 45 million worth of contraband cigarettes was confiscated on April 19 in Barangay Binalbagan, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

Police also reported the surrender of PHP 37 million worth of illicit cigarettes during checkpoint operations in Bacolod City.

The checkpoint recoveries included PHP 21 million worth of illicit cigarettes in Barangay Villamonte on April 14.

They also included PHP 16 million worth of illicit cigarettes in Barangay Taculing on April 15.

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region has vowed to sustain aggressive enforcement operations and strengthen its posture against cigarette smuggling to help protect government revenues.

Illicit cigarette manufacturing and smuggling have remained a concern for authorities because of their impact on tax collection, legitimate businesses, and regulatory enforcement.