P4.7M in smuggled cigarettes seized in Negros Oriental town

Authorities seized smuggled cigarettes worth P4.7 million during a maritime interdiction operation before dawn Saturday in Basay, Negros Oriental.

In a statement, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the Maritime Group’s 4th Special Operations Unit (4th SOU) received a tip about the unloading of contraband cigarettes along the coastal area of Barangay Nagbo-alao in Basay town.

Police units verified the tip and saw individuals unloading the boxes of cigarettes. The individuals fled upon seeing the law enforcers, abandoning the smuggled cigarettes.

Authorities recovered 83 boxes of cigarettes worth P4.755 million.

“Smuggling activities weaken legitimate trade and deprive the government of essential revenues. The Philippine National Police remains firm in protecting our maritime borders and ensuring that illegal trade networks are disrupted,” said PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

“Hindi natin papayagan na maging daanan ng kontrabando ang ating mga baybayin. Patuloy na kikilos ang PNP upang pigilan ang pagpasok ng mga kontrabando at panagutin ang mga nasa likod ng ganitong gawain,” he added.

(We will not let our coastlines be avenues for the entry of contraband. The PNP will continue to stop the entry of contraband and hold people accountable.)

The seized items were subjected to an inventory and were brought to the headquarters of the PNP Maritime Group’s 4th SOU.

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) will conduct the official valuation and further assessment of the confiscated cigarettes. — JMA, GMA Integrated News