By CESAR JOLITO III
Authorities intercepted an estimated P45 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a targeted anti-smuggling operation at Barangay Binalbagan in Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City on Sunday, April 19, leading to the arrest of four individuals and the disruption of a suspected distribution network in the Negros Island Region.
Operatives from the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), led by its Regional Intelligence Division, conducted the operation with support from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Canlaon police, and other law enforcement units.
Arrested were four suspects identified only by their aliases: a 26-year-old helper from Dipolog City; a 22-year-old driver from Lanao del Norte; a 46-year-old helper from Zamboanga Sibugay; and a 26-year-old driver from Zamboanga del Norte.
According to Lt. Colonel Joem Malong, chief of the PRO-NIR Public Information Office, operatives chanced upon the suspects while in transit in the area.
Authorities observed the group in the act of transferring boxes of illicit cigarettes — reportedly without Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps — from a 10-wheeler wing van to a six-wheeler panel van.
Seized during the operation were approximately 450 master cases of cigarettes.
Each master case contained 50 reams, indicating a large-scale operation believed to be intended for regional distribution.
The suspects are currently detained at the custodial facility of PRO-NIR, while the confiscated goods and vehicles will be turned over to the BIR District Office in Bacolod City for proper disposition.
Malong said the successful operation highlights law enforcement’s intensified campaign against the illegal tobacco trade, noting that intercepting the contraband at a critical transfer point effectively halted its distribution and prevented substantial revenue losses for the government.
“This underscores the importance of sustained monitoring and timely intervention as smuggling methods continue to evolve,” she said.
Authorities vowed to strengthen coordination with partner agencies and enhance operational readiness to curb similar illegal activities and uphold law and order across the region./CJ, WDJ