At least P13.4 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes have been seized in Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday, May 6.
According to PCG, the cigarettes were confiscated from “five crucial areas” and seven residential warehouses in Barangay Saraza and Barangay Maasin, Brooke's Point, Palawan on May 1.
Seized during the joint operation were 448 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarette brands.
The joint operation was conducted by the Coast Guard Station South Central Palawan, Special Operations Unit Palawan, Coast Guard Intelligence Group Palawan, Coast Guard K9 Field Operating Unit Palawan, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), MIG22, NISG West, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
On February 18, the PCG recovered P120,000 worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Calasaguen, Brooke's Point, Palawan.
Six master cases of alleged smuggled cigarettes were found abandoned, covered with a tarpaulin.
Reports said a concerned citizen discovered the “smuggled” cigarettes and reported them to the PCG.