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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider PNP Maritime foils entry of P21-M smuggled cigarettes to Negros

PNP Maritime foils entry of P21-M smuggled cigarettes to Negros

Published Aug 16, 2026 04:34 pm
Maritime authorities intercepted P21 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from seven persons on board a motorized boat during a seaborne patrol operation in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Saturday, August 15. (PNP)
Maritime authorities intercepted P21 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from seven persons on board a motorized boat during a seaborne patrol operation in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Saturday, August 15. (PNP)
BACOLOD CITY - Operatives of the Philippine Naional Police (PNP) Maritime Group’s Fourth Special Operations Unit arrested seven persons after intercepting P21 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, August 15.
Arrested were a 48-year-old male boat captain from Barangay Mampang, a 34-year-old man from Barangay Arina Blanco, a 24-year-old man from Barangay Mampang, an 18-year-old man from Barangay Tonkir, a 52-year-old man from Mangaya-ay, Purok 4, Mampang; a 27-year-old man from the same area, and a 42-year-old man from Liha-Liha, Mampang, all in Zamboanga City.
According to the police, the suspects were flagged while in a blue, red, and green motorized banca powered by twin engines with a defaced engine number, during a seaborne patrol operation.
The confiscated contraband include 220 master cases of a cigarette product valued at P8.8 million and 305 master cases of another brand at P12.2 million, totalling to 525 master cases or 26,250 reams of suspected illicit cigarettes.
The arrested individuals will face charges for violations of Republic Act (RA) 12022, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, RA 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 10643, the Graphic Health Warnings Law.
In a statement, PNP Chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said stopping these shipments before they reach the market was critical to protecting legitimate businesses and enforcing the laws.
He said they will remain vigilant and strengthen their capability to detect and intercept smuggling activities.
This follows the confiscation of the same contraband worth P15 million from three persons in a joint anti-smuggling operation at the port area of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on August 5.
A police checkpoint operation also led authorities to a storage compound in Barangay Malingin, Bago City, Negros Occidental, where an estimated P14.6 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes were seized on August 6.
In the first half of the year, the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) seized a total of P195 million worth of illicit cigarettes across the region from January to June, resulting in the arrest of 52 individuals.
The bulk of the confiscation was reported in April, with P138.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes within two-week operations.
In that same month, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) dismantled a reported large-scale illegal cigarette manufacturing and distribution network in this highly-urbanized city, and arrested 10 Chinese and four Filipino workers during a joint inspection in a warehouse in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental.
About P800 million worth of equipment, raw materials, and packaging supplies were recovered from two warehouses in this city and in Bago City.
A series of operations against illicit tobacco trade have been launched in Negros Island, leading to various confiscations and surrender of suspected smuggled cigarettes, which reportedly came from Mindanao.

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