BACOLOD CITY - The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) scored another major accomplishment against illicit cigarette trade following the seizure of P26.6 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes in Purok Cogon 1, Barangay Alimango, Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, August 25.

The intelligence-driven operation led by the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG)-NIR resulted in the arrest of JC, 29, a resident of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

A total of 447 master cases of alleged illicit cigarettes amounting to P57,300 per case were recovered and were reportedly bearing unauthorized tax seals and lacked the required health warning graphic labels, indicating violations of applicable laws and regulations governing the manufacture, distribution, and sale of tobacco products.

This recent significant seizure represents one of PRO-NIR's largest accomplishments against the illicit cigarette trade, underscoring the region’s intensified intelligence gathering, inter-unit coordination, and decisive enforcement operations against the illegal movement of untaxed and unauthorized tobacco products.

Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, PRO-NIR director, said this accomplishment only shows that their campaign against the illicit trade is not limited to illegal drugs and other criminal activities.

“We are equally determined to disrupt the illegal movement of untaxed and unauthorized products that undermine lawful businesses and deprive the government of legitimate revenues,” he added.

Cardiño said the series of operations against cigarette smuggling in the region has helped curb the illicit trade. However, he stressed that their efforts will continue to protect the community and the local economy.

He said people are now aware of the police’s intensified operations and have opted to surrender smuggled items.

This, however, will not cause authorities to lower their guard. Instead, they will strengthen intelligence gathering and step up efforts to conduct more intensive operations.

This follows the P594,000 worth of the same contraband from an abandoned truck in Sitio Tapol, Barangay Salong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, the seizure of P21 million worth of contraband during a seaborne patrol in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, and P14.6 million worth of smuggled cigarettes confiscated in Bago City, Negros Occidental this month.

For the first half of the year, the campaign against cigarette smuggling yielded P195 million worth of seizures and led to the arrest of 52 individuals.