By JEN BAYLON

Authorities seized more than P900,000 worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes in a joint anti-smuggling operation at Barangay Makiling’s Purok Malipayon in Negros Occidental’s Sagay City on Saturday morning, October 12.

The suspects, identified as 25-year-old Nasif Amer and 21-year-old Sadik Amer, both businessmen and residents of Purok Gardenia in Escalante City’s Barangay Balintawak, were arrested during the operation.

Police Captain Reynaldo Bauden, chief of the Negros Occidental Maritime Police Station, said they confiscated 1,412 reams, 91 packs and one box containing 50 reams of various cigarette brands from the suspects.

The total value of the seized items is estimated at P960,980.

Bauden said the two suspects had been under surveillance for some time.

Investigations revealed that the cigarettes were all imported and were being sold in different parts of Negros Occidental.

He added that the suspects are believed to be linked to several arrested individuals, who were also found in possession of smuggled cigarettes in Ilog town.

The two suspects are now facing charges for violations of Sections 145, 255, 263, and 275 of the National Internal Revenue Code Act of 1997.

They are currently in the custody of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Western Visayas for further investigation and legal disposition./JB, WDJ