PHP1.1-M Smuggled Cigarettes Seized in Escalante

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Maritime Police Station (BC MARPSTA), with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regional Office 12, confiscated PHP1.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from a house in Purok Masanagon, Barangay Balintawak, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Monday.

Authorities conducted the operation under a mission order targeting cigarette smuggling. However, the two occupants of the house were absent, and the property was considered abandoned at the time of the raid.

The confiscated items included 1,692 reams of assorted imported cigarettes valued at PHP1,099,800, as well as four packs and 17 sticks of other brands valued at PHP315.25.

According to the maritime police, the cigarettes were being sold at PHP650 per ream and PHP65 per pack.

The seized items were taken to the BIR office in Victorias City for documentation, pending the filing of a formal complaint.

In June, the BIR also seized 12,000 packs of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes at Escalante City’s public market.