BACOLOD CITY – Four suspected smugglers were arrested and several boxes of smuggled cigarettes were intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Southern Negros Occidental in Ilog, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, July 9.

A MOTORBANCA loaded with 150 boxes of smuggled cigarettes from Mindanao were intercepted in Ilog, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, July 9. (Photo courtesy of Reymund Titong)
Lt. Junior Grade Carla de Guzman, head of PCG-Southern Negros Occidental, said that the suspects transported a total of 155 boxes of illicit cigarettes from Mindanao to Negros on board a motor banca.
De Guzman said Coast Guard personnel received a report from a concerned citizen about a suspicious motor banca in the town.
The PCG sighted the motor banca which docked near the shoreline around 11 a.m.
De Guzman said the suspects can be considered couriers as they claimed that it was the first time that they transported smuggled cigarettes.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) did not disclose the value of the contraband which are now under their custody.
De Guzman said the suspects are detained at the police station and face appropriate charges.
Last month, the BIR confiscated 12,000 packs of fake and smuggled cigarettes at the public market of Escalante City, Negros Occidental.