Joint law enforcement operatives intercepted an illegal shipment of contraband cigarettes worth over P40 million and arrested 10 individuals in Basay, Negros Oriental, at 11:15 p.m. Saturday, May 16.
The operation stemmed from a verified intelligence report regarding the illicit unloading of tobacco products from a 10-wheeler closed van in Sitio Labugon, Barangay Nagbo-alao, Basay, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) reported on Sunday.
Following surveillance and verification operations, the joint team moved in to intercept the cargo and apprehend the suspects on site.
Seized were 700 master cases of “Bosqu” brand cigarettes with unauthorized tax seals and lacked the mandatory graphic health warning labels required under Republic Act No. 10643 (Graphic Health Warning Law), the PRO NIR report said.
The police identified the 10 arrested suspects through their aliases as “Sar”, 54, truck driver, resident of East Balabag, Valencia, Negros Oriental; “Al”, 42, driver, of Zamboanga City; “Pao”, 45, “Vin”, 41, “Ron”, 53, “Don”, 30, “Al”, 45, and “Jul”, 52 of Jolo; “Gad”, 62, and “Jid”, 40, of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
Also seized were a 10-wheeler closed van, a blue motorized bangka (Junkong), white Ford Explorer, white Mitsubishi L300 and two touchscreen smartphones, the police said.
The suspects are facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), alongside pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 12022.
The 10 suspects are currently detained at the Basay Municipal Police Station pending documentation and the filing of formal charges.
The bust was carried out by the Regional Intelligence Division of the PRO NIR, with operational assistance from the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, Basay Municipal Police Station, and the Special Operations Unit. Maritime and coastal security support was also provided by the Coast Guard Intelligence Group Southern Visayas, Coast Guard Sub-Station Basay, 4th SOU Maritime, and the Regional Maritime Unit SOT NIR, in close coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.*
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