Bacolod police seize PHP 16M in smuggled cigarettes

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office continues to intensify its campaign against the illegal cigarette trade after recovering suspected smuggled cigarettes worth PHP 16 million at a police checkpoint in Barangay Taculing on Wednesday.

Personnel from Police Station 6 were conducting a routine checkpoint at about 10:15 p.m. when a green Isuzu six-wheeler panel van stopped several meters after passing the inspection point.

The driver and his helper later approached the team leader and disclosed that their vehicle was transporting boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes, prompting police personnel to inspect the cargo.

Investigation showed that the driver, identified only by the alias Ren, along with his helpers, alias Jay and alias Mik, had been contracted by unidentified individuals to drive the vehicle.

However, the driver noticed markings on the boxes that indicated the cargo contained illicit cigarettes, prompting them to contact their employer, who instructed them to surrender the shipment to the nearest police station.

Police found 102 master cases of Tabaco brand cigarettes, 54 master cases of Cannon brand cigarettes, and four master cases of Conrad brand cigarettes, for a total of 160 master cases.

Each master case contains 50 reams, and each ream consists of 10 packs, with an estimated value of PHP 2,000 per ream.

The recovered items are now under the custody of Police Station 6 pending turnover to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The latest recovery came after Police Station 4 intercepted suspected illicit cigarettes worth PHP 21 million at a checkpoint in Barangay Villamonte on April 14.

The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region stressed the critical role of checkpoint operations as a frontline defense against the movement of illegal goods.

The regional office also acknowledged the cooperation of citizens in disrupting unlawful activities that undermine both public welfare and government revenue.

“Integral to these efforts is the indispensable cooperation of the public, whose vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities significantly enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement operations,” it stated.

Authorities have continued to tighten anti-smuggling operations in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region, where illicit cigarette shipments remain a concern because of lost tax revenues and unfair competition against legitimate businesses.