By Mary Judaline Partlow
DUMAGUETE CITY – Police in the Negros Island Region (NIR) are set to file charges against 10 individuals arrested during an anti-smuggling operation in Basay, Negros Oriental over the weekend.
Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said Monday the suspects will face complaints for violations of Republic Act (RA) 10643 or the Graphic Health Warnings Law, RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 12022, which penalizes agricultural economic sabotage and smuggling activities.
“The complaints are being prepared for regular filing before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Negros Oriental since the alleged offenses were committed in Basay town,” Polinar said.
He added the suspects were released on Monday after the 36-hour reglementary detention period lapsed.
Authorities seized an estimated PHP40.1 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during Saturday’s joint anti-smuggling operation and brought the “contraband” to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
The operation was led by the Regional Intelligence Division of the NIR Police Regional Office in coordination with the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, the Philippine Coast Guard, and local police units.
Law enforcers intercepted some 700 master cases of “Bosqu” brand cigarettes aboard a motorized boat locally known as a “junkong.” The cigarette packs allegedly lacked the required tax seals and graphic health warning labels mandated by law.
The arrested individuals were reportedly from Valencia town in Negros Oriental, as well as Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga City.
Confiscated during the operation were a motorized boat, a 10-wheel closed van, a Ford Explorer pickup truck, and a Mitsubishi L300 van believed to have been used in the transport of the contraband.
Police noted that Basay has become a recurring hotspot for cigarette smuggling operations in recent years. In October 2025, authorities recovered PHP24.5 million worth of undocumented cigarettes in Barangay Nagbo-alao, while another PHP5.1 million worth of abandoned smuggled cigarettes was discovered in Barangay Bongalonan in March 2026.
Meanwhile, authorities also presented before the provincial prosecutor’s office here on Monday a high-value drug suspect arrested in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, after police seized around PHP7 million worth of suspected shabu during a separate weekend operation.
Polinar said the suspect had previously been released from jail in October 2025 after illegal drug charges against him were earlier dismissed.
Investigators said the suspect claimed the illegal drugs were delivered by a contact from Metro Manila but refused to identify the source. (PNA)
