• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Police seized more than P11 million worth of smuggled cigarettes on Saturday in Brgy. Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Authorities confiscated 190 boxes of Fort, Pure, and Berlin cigarettes with an estimated market value of P11,127,000.
Apprehended during the police operation were alias Midcpal, a 42-year-old truck driver and resident of Brgy. Tituan, Zamboanga City; and alias Julvin, 39, a truck helper and resident of Brgy. Butan, Jolo, Sulu.
The joint anti-smuggling operation was conducted by the Regional Maritime Unit–Negros Island Region and the Himamaylan City Police Station. It led to the discovery of several boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes being offloaded from a white Fuso panel truck.
Initial police investigations showed that the two suspects failed to present legal documents from the Bureau of Customs to prove lawful importation and tax payment.
Authorities impounded the white Fuso panel truck and confiscated 170 boxes (8,500 reams) of Pure cigarettes, 15 boxes (750 reams) of Fort cigarettes, and five boxes (250 reams) of Berlin cigarettes.
The suspects, who are now detained at the Himamaylan City Police Station custodial facility, are facing charges for violating Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863 (Unlawful Importation) and Section 6 of Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014).
In previous months, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also seized approximately P4.7 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. 2, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. | GB
