PRO-NIR seizes PHP 195 million in illicit cigarettes

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Amid an intensified crackdown on cigarette smuggling in the Negros Island Region, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region has confiscated PHP 195 million worth of illicit cigarettes across the region from January to June this year.

Based on PRO-NIR data, police conducted 283 operations that resulted in the arrest of 52 individuals in the past six months.

The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office recorded the biggest seizure, with PHP 91.7 million, followed by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, with PHP 64 million, and the Bacolod City Police Office, with PHP 39 million.

Negros Oriental police carried out 170 operations against cigarette smuggling, apprehending 17 people, while NOCPPO launched 103 operations and arrested 35 individuals.

The BCPO conducted 10 operations, with no apprehensions, during the first half.

The bulk of the confiscations was reported in April, with PHP 138.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes seized within two weeks from operations in Himamaylan City and Hinoba-an, both in Negros Occidental; Canlaon City, Negros Oriental; and barangays Taculing and Villamonte in this city.

In the same month, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group dismantled a reported large-scale illegal cigarette manufacturing and distribution network and arrested 10 Chinese and four Filipino workers during a joint inspection of a warehouse in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental.

About PHP 800 million worth of equipment, raw materials, and packaging supplies was recovered from two warehouses in this city and in Bago City.

A police officer from this city was subjected to an investigation after he was tagged as an alleged protector of the illegal activity in the region, prompting Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to visit the province that month.

The Negros Island Region was established under Republic Act 12000, signed in 2024, and covers Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

Meanwhile, the most recent operation against illicit cigarettes in the region was led by the CIDG-Negros Occidental on June 20, with the seizure of PHP 1.9 million worth of contraband and the arrest of three people in a warehouse in Barangay 8 here.

On June 29, illicit cigarettes worth PHP 61,000 were surrendered to police in Sagay City and Escalante City, Negros Occidental, while the same contraband worth PHP 15,000 was abandoned and recovered in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

The following day, illicit cigarettes worth PHP 75,000 were abandoned and recovered by authorities in Toboso, while illicit cigarettes worth PHP 12,000 were surrendered to police in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental.