PCG intercepts illicit cigarettes in Dumaguete port

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — As authorities intensified their crackdown on the production and distribution of smuggled cigarettes in the Negros Island Region, the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas and the Bureau of Customs intercepted another alleged shipment of illicit cigarettes at the Dumaguete port in Negros Oriental on Wednesday.

The shipment was bound for Siquijor.

Based on a report from the CGDSV, the Coast Guard Intelligence Unit received information on the alleged transport of smuggled cigarettes from Dumaguete City to Siquijor.

A joint briefing with concerned agencies was conducted before the deployment.

During the inspection of the rolling cargoes, a truck driver was instructed to open the cargo cover, which yielded the suspected contraband.

The CGDSV, however, has no data yet on the estimated value of the recovered contraband, pending inventory by authorities.

The team will also prepare appropriate legal action.

This follows the interception of an illegal shipment of PHP 40 million worth of illicit cigarettes and the arrest of 10 individuals during an intelligence-driven operation in Barangay Nagbo-alao, Basay, Negros Oriental, on May 16.

Last week, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group discovered a warehouse allegedly being used for illegal cigarette manufacturing in Barangay Lag-asan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on May 12.

The discovery was linked to the ongoing investigation into PHP 800 million worth of cigarette manufacturing materials earlier found in warehouses in Bacolod City and Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, on April 21.