BACOLOD City – The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), through the Himamaylan City Police Station, played a vital role in a joint anti-smuggling operation led by the Regional Maritime Unit–NIR, resulting in the arrest of two suspects and the confiscation of P11.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.
The operation was conducted on October 4 in Barangay Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
The suspects were identified as alias “Ali,” a male truck driver and resident of Barangay Tituan, Zamboanga City, and alias “Bio,” 39, a truck helper and resident of Barangay Butan, Jolo, Sulu.
Authorities said the operation transpired when operatives from the Regional Maritime Unit–NIR, together with Himamaylan police, spotted several suspicious individuals unloading boxes believed to contain smuggled cigarettes.
When approached for verification, the suspects failed to present valid documents proving payment of duties and taxes from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The operatives then placed the suspects under arrest for violation of Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act – Unlawful Importation) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014).
Recovered from the suspects were 170 boxes of Pure cigarettes, 15 boxes of Fort cigarettes, five boxes of Berlin cigarettes, and a Fuso panel truck used to transport the goods.
The total estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was placed at P11,127,000.
The suspects are currently under the custody of the Regional Maritime Unit–NIR for proper legal disposition.
“This successful joint operation reflects the strong partnership among Philippine National Police units in protecting our borders from illegal trade,” said Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of PRO-NIR.
“PRO-NIR remains steadfast in its commitment to support the government’s campaign against cigarette smuggling and other economic crimes that undermine lawful commerce and public trust,” he added./PN
