Duo Arrested, PHP12.8-Million Smuggled Cigarettes Seized

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Authorities arrested two men and seized 11,450 reams of smuggled and illicit cigarettes worth PHP12.8 million during a police operation Monday along the shoreline of Sitio Bagambang, Barangay Tiling in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

The suspects were identified as “Jun-Jun,” 39, originally from Zamboanga City and temporarily residing in Himamaylan City, and “Mar,” 39, a hired driver also from Himamaylan City.

Jun-Jun was allegedly the organizer of the operation, while Mar had reportedly been working for him for about a year.

Police had monitored the area for a week following a tip about the transport of smuggled cigarettes into Cauayan.

Police Capt. Reynaldo Bauden Jr., chief of the Bacolod City Maritime Police Station, said Jun-Jun is believed to be linked to a major cigarette smuggling network based in Mindanao.

Bauden said the two men and several others were caught transferring the cigarette shipment from a boat into two panel vans.

When officers identified themselves, the other individuals fled, leaving the suspects behind.

He noted that only 10 personnel were deployed to confront at least 15 individuals.

Authorities recovered 7,450 reams of imported cigarettes worth PHP8.3 million and 4,000 reams of locally made illicit cigarettes worth PHP4.48 million.

The cigarettes had bypassed Bureau of Customs procedures and were untaxed, making them cheaper for resale in remote areas.

The suspects refused to name their supplier, but investigators believe the operation is connected to a previous anti-smuggling case in Binalbagan earlier this year.

Similar operations were conducted last year in Sagay City and Escalante City.

Bauden said cigarette smuggling has been ongoing in the province for years.

Charges are being prepared under Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

The seized cigarettes will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

A local manufacturer also plans to file additional charges against the suspects.

The Maritime Police warned they will not tolerate cigarette smuggling or similar illegal activities.

“We will not rest until every illicit operation is dismantled, every counterfeit product seized, and every violator brought to justice,” Bauden said.