• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A Malaysian and three Filipinos were intercepted by authorities for alleged cigarette smuggling at a docking area in Barangay 2, Ilog, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, July 10.
PMaj. Joseph Partidas, Ilog police chief, said that the contraband was intercepted through a joint operation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Coast Guard, Ilog Municipal Police Station, and Bantay Dagat of Ilog and Himamaylan City.
Partidas said that the four arrested suspects allowed authorities to inspect the motorized sea vessel.
Upon inspection, they discovered 150 large carton boxes containing 77,750 packs of assorted cigarettes, with market value yet to be determined by BIR, he added.
Initial police investigation indicated that the suspected smuggled cigarettes came from Zamboanga and were transported to Ilog town for almost two days.
Partidas said that the four suspects are detained at the Ilog custodial facility while the confiscated cigarettes were brought BIR personnel to Bacolod City for proper disposition.
Last month, BIR personnel, assisted by Philippine Army soldiers and policemen, also seized smuggled cigarettes at the public market of Escalante City, Negros Occidental. | GB
