NEGROS Occidental – Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)–Southern Negros Occidental intercepted around 100 boxes of smuggled cigarettes at the old port in Barangay Cartagena, Sipalay City, on Thursday morning, November 27.
Lieutenant Junior Grade James Carbajosa, PCG–Southern Negros Occidental commander, said the operation comes following an intelligence report about illicit goods being transported by sea from Mindanao.
Carbajosa said six crew members and about 15 other individuals were unloading the cargo from a motorbanca. However, the suspects immediately fled toward a nearby mountain upon seeing law enforcers.
The abandoned boat, believed to have come from Basilan, was battered by strong waves, causing several boxes to scatter along the shoreline. Coast Guard personnel subsequently conducted a cleanup operation to secure all the recovered contraband.
Carbajosa said the haul was likely intended for distribution across Negros Occidental, noting that the operation reflects the PCG’s heightened efforts to deter the entry of illicit goods into the province.
The total market value of the seized assorted cigarettes is yet to be determined. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was still conducting an inventory.
As of this writing, the suspects remained unidentified and at large. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
