BACOLOD City — Nearly P2 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes were surrendered to authorities after a shipment was intercepted at the San Carlos Seaport in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, late Monday night, August 31.
The incident occurred at around 11:58 p.m. at the seaport in Barangay 6 following a report from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-San Carlos Substation about suspected smuggled cigarettes at the port.
Personnel of the San Carlos City Police Station immediately responded to the report.
Upon arrival, police found two men aboard a gray Nissan van who had been held by personnel from the PCG, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine National Police Maritime Group and port security guards.
A subsequent inspection of the vehicle led authorities to discover several master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes.
Police conducted an inventory and found 33 master cases of Native brand cigarettes, with each master case containing 60 reams.
The seized cigarettes were estimated to have a market value of P1.98 million.
The two individuals were identified only by their aliases as “Nurhamin,” 30, married, and a resident of Balamban, Toledo City, Cebu, and “Alsaif,” 24, married, also from Balamban.
The recovered cigarettes were turned over to the appropriate authorities for proper disposition and further investigation.
Authorities are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the shipment and establish possible violations of laws governing the transport and sale of illicit tobacco products./PN
