The Philippine Coast Guard in Negros Oriental has intercepted some P3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes at the port in Sibulan town, an official said Thursday.
Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, Coast Guard-Negros Oriental station commander, told the media that a wing van from Negros Occidental was flagged down at the Sibulan port by a joint team from the Maritime Police and the Bureau of Customs around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“Acting on a tip, Coast Guard personnel found 100 boxes of cigarettes without the necessary documents upon inspection,” she said.
A total of 8,630 reams of cigarettes were in the boxes that were wrapped in plastic, she said.
Some of the cigarette brands included Thunder, Alpha, and Alpha Light.
Two persons are now under the custody of authorities pending investigation to determine the owner or consignee of the shipment.
Enopia said the van was bound for the port in Liloan, Cebu.
The Coast Guard has turned over the smuggled goods to the Bureau of Customs here for inventory, and proper disposition. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
