The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Negros Oriental is ramping up its anti-smuggling efforts in the province following the seizure of “smuggled” cigarettes in Basay town over the weekend.

Police Executive Master Sergeant Aurelio Bodo, chief of the Special Operations Team for Negros Oriental at the Regional Highway Patrol Unit – Negros Island Region, said yesterday there may be significant smuggling activities originating from Mindanao.

“We began investigating these purported smuggling operations as early as July, before our discussion with the executive judge and the Bureau of Internal Revenue [BIR] here seeking advice on our approach,” Bodo told the Philippine News Agency.

Bodo said they consulted with Negros Oriental Executive Judge Marie Rose Inocando and BIR-Regional District Office 079 (Dumaguete) chief Remedios Advincula, Jr. before they carried out the weekend operation.

On Saturday, October 11, a joint team headed by the HPG confiscated numerous boxes of contraband cigarettes at a private property in Barangay Nagbo-alao, Basay town.

Bodo said some people were seen loading cigarette boxes onto delivery panels, but fled after noticing the authorities.

No arrests were made in the operation, although Bodo said they are now tracing the vehicle plates.

He said four vehicles were at the scene, but upon inspection, only one of them was fully loaded with cigarette boxes.

The delivery panel with the “contraband items” was brought to the HPG-NIR headquarters in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental for inventory, while the three other vehicles are in the custody of the Basay police station.

Bodo said they are investigating reports that at least five individuals were allegedly sending untaxed cigarettes to Negros Oriental through Basay town, as it is the closest point from Mindanao. (PNA)