P15 Million Worth of Smuggled Cigarettes Seized in Negros Oriental

Smuggled cigarettes valued at P15 million were seized during a police operation in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental on Wednesday. The contraband was found in a truck that arrived on board a roll-on roll-off vessel at a port in Barangay Looc. Negros Island Region police director Brig. Gen. Roman Cardiño said three men – identified as Jear Masayon, Joanie Meria and Alfad Asari – were arrested during the operation. The suspects are residents of Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, from where the contraband reportedly originated. Cardiño said the suspects failed to show documents for the transport of the cigarettes, which were concealed under boxes of dried fish. Among the items found in the truck were 263 master cases of cigarettes bearing the brands Walter Premium and Busqu. The packs of cigarettes reportedly bore no graphic health warnings. This incident highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to combat smuggling within the Philippines. The presence of unmarked cigarette packs, especially as regulations mandating graphic health warnings on tobacco products become more stringent, raises public health concerns.