Police have recovered more than 200 boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P14.6 million during a raid at a rented house inside a compound in Barangay Malingin, Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The seizure of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P14.6 million in Negros Occidental is one of the latest major anti-smuggling operations in the Visayas, following similar confiscations in Negros Oriental and Samar earlier in the week.

Authorities in Bago City said they tracked the stash after intercepting a van carrying suspected smuggled cigarettes at a checkpoint in Barangay Lag-asan. Police became suspicious after the driver and his two companions appeared nervous during the inspection.

Bago City Police Station chief, Lt. Col. James Latayon, Jr., said officers found a ream of cigarettes inside the vehicle, leading to the discovery of the larger stockpile.

“During checkpoint, it seems na medyo nerbiyoso 'yung dalawang pahinante. Chineck natin ang likod. May nakitang isang ream ng sigarilyo. Nung tinanong, doon na,” he said.

Police said the 32-year-old driver, identified only as alias Kev, admitted where the cigarettes were being stored. He and two helpers were arrested during the operation.

One of the arrested helpers denied involvement in the smuggling operation, saying he was only hired to watch over the stocks.

“Negosyo lang. Labor lang. Doon lang kami sa bahay,” he said.

Paul Siason, the owner of the rented house, said he were unaware that the property was allegedly being used to store smuggled goods.

“Bale, dumadaan lang naman sila. May tao ako na nagbabantay dito noong nakaraan. Nagulat nga ako,” he said.

Barangay officials also said they had no knowledge of the alleged illegal activity.

“Lagi na lang close ang gate. Ang sasakyan, may wing van, may kotse. Bigla na lang na may ilegalista dito sa barangay,” Milo Dela Vega, a councilman of Malingin, said.

The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the cigarettes were believed to have originated from Mindanao and were transported to Negros Occidental through roll-on/roll-off vessels and small ports.

PRO-NIR spokesperson, Lt. Col. Joem Malong, said authorities have long monitored multiple entry points used by alleged smugglers.

“On monitoring natin even before pa, ang smuggled cigarettes na pinapapasok dito sa atin ay either by RoRo o di kaya sa mga small ports natin. Ang entry points natin, napakarami,” Malong said.

From January to July 2026, police conducted 502 anti-smuggling operations that resulted in the seizure of more than P200 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes.

The latest operation came days after authorities separately confiscated suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P15 million in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and P3.25 million in Basey, Samar, highlighting continuing efforts to crack down on cigarette smuggling across the Visayas.