PHP 40-million cigarette shipment seized in Negros Oriental; 10 arrested

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has intensified its crackdown on cigarette smuggling, following the seizure of cigarettes worth PHP 40 million and the arrest of 10 people during an intelligence-led operation in Basay, Negros Oriental, late Saturday night.

Arrested were Sar (alias), 54, a truck driver from East Balabag, Valencia, Negros Oriental; Al (alias), 42, a driver from Barangay San Roque, Zamboanga City; Pao, 45; Vin, 41; Ron, 53; Don, 30; Al, 45; and Jul, 52, all residents of Jolo, Sulu; and Gad, 62, and Jid, 40, both residents of Tawi-Tawi.

According to Police Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of PRO-NIR, the operation was launched after the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) received verified information about the unloading of suspected smuggled cigarettes from a 10-wheeler closed van in Sitio Labugon, Barangay Nagbo-alao, Basay town.

Authorities found that the seized cigarettes carried unauthorized tax stamps and did not bear the required graphic health warning labels, violating Republic Act No. 10643 or the Graphic Health Warning Law, Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and provisions of Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.

Recovered during the operation were 700 master cases of Bosqu-brand cigarettes, a 10-wheeler closed van, a motorized boat, two mobile phones, a white Ford Explorer, and a white Mitsubishi L300.

The confiscated cigarettes were turned over to the RID for proper custody and safekeeping, while the motorized boat was placed under the custody of the Maritime Special Operations Unit.

The arrested suspects were brought to the Basay Municipal Police Station for documentation and the filing of charges.

Malong said the Basay operation has no link to the ongoing probe on the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) discovery of warehouses and confiscation of cigarette-making materials worth PHP 800 million here and in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on April 21.

He also said it is unrelated to the police’s recent discovery of another warehouse in Barangay Lag-asan, Bago City.

The PRO-NIR emphasized the importance of strengthened intelligence monitoring, tighter coastal and border security, and closer coordination among law enforcement agencies in the fight against smuggling and other forms of economic sabotage.

The regional office also reiterated its commitment to pursuing syndicates involved in illicit trade operations that harm legitimate businesses, reduce government revenues, and endanger public welfare.

Negros Island has emerged in recent years as a transshipment route for illicit cigarettes moved from Mindanao to markets in the Visayas and Luzon, with cigarette smuggling costing the Philippine government billions of pesos in foregone excise tax revenue annually, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

On May 7, the Negros Occidental Maritime Police destroyed smuggled cigarettes worth PHP 8.9 million at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested and cigarettes worth PHP 850,000 were seized in Barangay Dahili, Mabinay, Negros Oriental, on Friday.

Arrested were Dom, 38, of Zamboanga del Sur, currently residing in Barangay Talobangi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental; and Gar, 23, of Barangay Talobangi.

According to a report from PRO-NIR, the operation stemmed from intelligence on the alleged transport and delivery of smuggled cigarettes from Zamboanga City passing through the Dapitan–Dumaguete route en route to Bacolod City.

Confiscated during the operation were 18 boxes of Three Star filter cigarettes and 16 boxes of Three Star menthol cigarettes, all allegedly bearing unauthorized tax seals and lacking the required graphic health warning labels.

Also recovered were two mobile phones and a Suzuki minivan believed to have been used in the transport of the contraband.