Maritime police seize PHP 11.127-M worth of ‘smuggled’ cigarettes

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Maritime police in the Negros Island Region seized PHP 11.127 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from two individuals in Barangay Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday.

A report from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office said officers saw individuals carrying numerous boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes in the coastal village before noon.

When authorities inspected the boxes, a 42-year-old truck driver and his helper failed to present documents showing payment of lawful duties and taxes to the Bureau of Customs.

Recovered were 170 boxes or 8,500 reams of Pure cigarettes, 15 boxes or 750 reams of Fort cigarettes, and five boxes or 250 reams of Berlin cigarettes.

Police said the truck driver and his helper are residents of Zamboanga City and Jolo, Sulu, respectively.

Both were arrested for violating Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, on unlawful importation, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014.

The operation was conducted in coordination with the Himamaylan City Police Station.

Eight similar cases were recorded this year in the Negros Island Region, beginning with the confiscation of PHP 50,700 worth of illicit cigarettes in a public market in Kabankalan City on Feb. 1.

Authorities then seized PHP 55,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes in a public market in Binalbagan on Feb. 18.

Three individuals were arrested at a police checkpoint in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, on May 21 following the recovery of PHP 1.232 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.

The largest seizure was reported in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on May 19 with PHP 12.815 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.

In E.B. Magalona on May 27, police confiscated PHP 2.8 million worth of the same contraband, followed by the recovery of PHP 8.38 million worth of illicit cigarettes in Barangay Singcang–Airport in Bacolod City on July 2.

On July 10, officers seized PHP 4.7 million worth of alleged substandard and illicit cigarettes in Himamaylan City.

Last month, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Negros Island Region arrested a 41-year-old Chinese national after seizing PHP 7.825 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Bacolod City.

Background: RA 10863 strengthens customs enforcement against smuggling and provides penalties for unlawful importation, while RA 10643 mandates graphic health warnings and regulates the packaging and labeling of tobacco products to deter smoking and curb illicit trade.