Police authorities in Negros Oriental have intensified operations against smuggling of cigarettes following two recent apprehensions in the province, an official said on Wednesday.
Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the Philippine National Police Maritime Group led operations that seized large quantities of smuggled cigarettes.
On Tuesday, a suspect was arrested in Amlan town’s barangay Tandayag during a buy-bust operation, resulting in the confiscation of 20 reams of suspected smuggled items, King Master and Dunston cigarettes.
Earlier, six individuals from Basilan Province in Mindanao were caught off the Basay town coast with 200 boxes of Dunston Red cigarettes.
They will be charged with violation of Sec. 10 (prohibition of sales) of Republic Act 10643 or An Act to Effectively Instill Health Consciousness through Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products.
Authorities continue to monitor coastal areas for further smuggling attempts to prevent the illegal entry of goods into the Province. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
