• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than P11 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized by police on October 4 at Barangay Talaban in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Authorities confiscated 190 boxes of Fort, Pure and Berlin cigarettes with an estimated market value of P11,127,000.
Also nabbed were alias Midcpal, a 42-year-old truck driver, who is a resident of Brgy. Tituan, Zamboanga City; and alias Julvin, 39, a truck helper, and a resident of Brgy. Butan, Jolo, Sulu.
The joint anti-smuggling operation, which was conducted by the Regional Maritime Unit- – Negros Island Region and the Himamaylan City Police Station, 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 arrested suspects failed to present legal documents from the Bureau of Customs, proving lawful importation and tax payment.
Authorities also seized the white Fuso panel truck, aside from 170 boxes (8,500 reams) of Pure cigarettes, 15 boxes (750 reams) of Fort cigarettes, and five boxes (250 reams) of Berlin cigarettes.
The two arrested suspects, now detained at the Himamaylan City Police Station custodial facility, are facing charges for Violation of Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863 (Unlawful Importation) and Section 6 of Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014).
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also seized about P4.7 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a buy bust operation in Brgy. 2, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, in recent months.*
