• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Authorities seized 8,875 reams and 418 packs of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth around P8.5 million during an anti-smuggling operation in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Friday, Oct. 23.
The operation, which was jointly conducted by the Philippine National Police-Regional Intelligence Division-Negros Island Region (PNP-RID-NIR) in coordination with the BOC Port of Iloilo and the Philippine Army, also led to the arrest of a suspect.
The confiscated cigarettes carried the brands D&B, YS, and Marvels and believed to have been distributed without the necessary permits and documentation.
The operation stemmed from information gathered and verified by the PNP-RID-NIR regarding the alleged smuggling of cigarettes in the area.
On Oct. 18, police arrested two individuals and seized P4.354 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Balicotoc, Ilog in another major anti-smuggling operation in the region. | GPB
