By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities intercepted more than P11.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested two men at Barangay Talaban in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City on Saturday, October 4, in what police described as another major blow to the illicit tobacco trade in southern Negros.

The suspects, identified as a 42-year-old truck driver and his 39-year-old helper, are residents of Zamboanga City and Jolo, Sulu — areas often linked to the transshipment of contraband cigarettes from Mindanao.

Police said they spotted the duo in possession of several boxes of cigarettes along the coastal area of Barangay Talaban before noon.

Upon inspection, the suspects failed to present any documents showing payment of duties and taxes from the Bureau of Customs.

Confiscated during the operation were 170 boxes (8,500 reams) of Pure cigarettes, 15 boxes (750 reams) of Fort cigarettes, and five boxes (250 reams) of Berlin cigarettes.

The total estimated value of the haul was pegged at P11,150,000.

Authorities said the suspects will face charges for violating Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Act of 2014).

Police and customs officials believe the contraband may have been bound for distribution across Negros Island, citing the area’s accessibility to maritime routes used by smugglers.

The recent arrest follows a similar operation last month, when the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Negros Island Region apprehended a 41-year-old Chinese national and seized P7.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in the same city./CJ, WDJ