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Raps filed vs couriers of smuggled cigarettes

Philippines | Luzon

Raps filed vs couriers of smuggled cigarettes

By Glazyl Masculino

By GLAZYL MASCULINO

BACOLOD CITY â€“ Charges for violating Republic Act 8424 or the Tax Reform Act of 1997 were filed on Thursday, July 11, against four persons, including a Malaysian, for allegedly transporting P3.8-million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Ilog, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, July 9.

ONE-HUNDRED fifty-five boxes of cigarettes worth P3.8 million were seized from a Malaysian and three Filipinos in Ilog, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, July 9. (Photo courtesy of Ilog Municipal Police Station)

Arrested were a 31-year-old construction worker and boat captain, two fishermen aged 18 and 19, and a 20-year-old Malaysian fisherman, all residents of Isabela City, Basilan.

Police Major Joseph Partidas, Ilog police chief, said that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Southern Negros intercepted a motor boat carrying 155 boxes with 7,750 reams of cigarettes. The suspects traveled for two days from Zamboanga to transport the cigarettes to Negros.

The suspects said that they were just told to transport the items to the province but they do not know the source and the clients who will pick them up. It was their second time to transport cigarettes to the province.

Partidas believe that there is a middleman who contacted the suspects to transport the contraband.

The Malaysian settled in Basilan after he got married in the province.

He said the seized items are in the custody of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Bacolod.

Related Tags

Cigarette smuggling Ilog Negros Occidental

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