Authorities in the Negros Island Region have dealt a significant blow to illicit trade with the recovery of smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately P365,000. The contraband was seized in two distinct police-led operations conducted in Negros Oriental on December 12 and 13, 2025.
Checkpoint Discovery Leads to Initial Bust
The first interception occurred on the evening of December 12, according to Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, chief of the PRO-NIR Public Information Office. At around 7:58 p.m., personnel manning a checkpoint along Diversion Road in Barangay Magatas, Sibulan, received a crucial tip from a vigilant citizen.
The report indicated that a stash of allegedly abandoned cigarettes was located roughly 300 meters from the police post. Acting swiftly on the information, responding officers proceeded to the specified area. There, they found a large, opened carton containing misdeclared tobacco products suspected to be smuggled goods.
This initial haul included 42 rims and 10 packs of Rasean Gold Blend cigarettes, with an estimated market value of P25,000. The container box was also seized as evidence.
Shoreline Stash Uncovered Hours Later
In a separate but related incident, police action continued into the early hours of the following day. At approximately 4 a.m. on December 13, the Basay Municipal Police Station received another report from a concerned citizen.
This tip pointed to five cartoon boxes abandoned along the shoreline in Sitio Cotcot, Barangay Bongalonan, Basay. A verification team was dispatched to the scene and confirmed the boxes were filled with smuggled cigarettes.
The value of this second, larger seizure was estimated at a substantial P340,000.
Investigation and Community Praise
Lieutenant Colonel Malong emphasized that a thorough and ongoing investigation is underway. The probe aims to identify and hold accountable the individuals responsible for this illegal activity.
Malong highlighted that these successful recoveries underscore the effectiveness of key law enforcement strategies. Sustained police visibility, intelligence-driven operations, and robust community cooperation were all credited for the positive outcome.
"These efforts directly disrupt illegal trade, protect legitimate businesses, and safeguard government revenues across the Negros Island Region," Malong stated.
The operations demonstrate how active citizen participation, combined with proactive police work, serves as a powerful deterrent against smuggling and other illicit activities in the region.
