BACOLOD CITY – Suspected smuggled cigarettes worth PHP 21 million were voluntarily surrendered to police at a checkpoint in Purok Herbabuena, Circumferential Road, Barangay Villamonte recently.
Police said the surrendered items included 200 boxes of Tabaco cigarettes and 15 boxes of Cannon cigarettes.
According to a report from the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region, a white Isuzu six-wheeler panel van stopped a few meters before the checkpoint, drawing the attention of police personnel.
The driver, identified only as “Mar,” and his helper, alias “Ky,” approached authorities and disclosed that the vehicle was loaded with alleged smuggled cigarettes.
The investigation found that the two were reportedly hired by an unidentified individual to transport the cargo from an unknown warehouse.
Police said the pair noticed suspicious markings on the boxes, informed their employer and were told to proceed to Police Station 4.
While on their way, they encountered the checkpoint operation and decided to report the matter directly to authorities.
The recovered cigarettes are under the custody of Police Station 4 pending turnover to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for verification.
Meanwhile, police arrested a 32-year-old laborer after confiscating alleged illicit cigarettes worth PHP 3.345 million in Sitio Mapait, Barangay Suay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Monday.
The suspect, identified by police only as alias “Joe” of Barangay Suay, was caught in plain view allegedly possessing the contraband without Bureau of Internal Revenue tax stamps while on board a white Toyota Hi-Ace van.
Seized during the operation were 53 master cases of Tabaco American Blend cigarettes, nine master cases of Cannon Special American Blend cigarettes, four master cases of Conrad Menthol cigarettes, and 45 reams of Tabaco American Blend cigarettes, all without the required tax stamps.
The regional police office urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities involving the illegal trade in tobacco and other contraband.
Police said the appeal is part of a broader effort to promote safer and more law-abiding communities.
The latest incident followed the seizure of an estimated PHP 25 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, on Monday.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue requires tax stamps on cigarette packs as part of enforcement against illicit tobacco trade, which authorities say deprives the government of revenue and undermines regulation of tobacco products. (Glazyl M. Jopson via tdg photo by tdg)