• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Authorities intercepted approximately 100 boxes of assorted smuggled cigarettes at Old Pantalan, Barangay Cartagena, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, around 2:15 a.m. on Thursday.
The Philippine Coast Guard Station Southern Negros Occidental facilitated the confiscation of the illegal cargo, following an intelligence report indicating the presence of a shipment with smuggled goods in the area.
The Coast Guard believes that the seized items were part of a large-scale cigarette smuggling operation originating from Mindanao.
Responding units arrived to find six crew members and about 15 other individuals unloading the cargo from a motorized vessel. However, upon seeing the authorities, the suspects immediately fled toward a nearby mountainous area.
The abandoned boat, believed to have originated from Basilan, was battered by strong waves, causing several boxes to spill along the shoreline. Coast Guard personnel subsequently conducted a cleanup operation to secure all recovered contraband.
The authorities promptly loaded the confiscated cigarettes onto a dump truck provided by Sipalay City for proper disposal.
“The Coast Guard District Southern Negros Occidental remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold maritime laws, combat smuggling, and ensure safe, secure, and lawful maritime activities within the Negros Island Region,” the Coast Guard stated in a social media post.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is currently conducting an inventory to determine the total value of the seized cigarettes.
All suspects remain unidentified and at large as investigations continue.*
