STEPPED UP anti-smuggling campaign by the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) since last September has already led to the arrest of 22 suspects and the confiscation of nearly P44 million worth of assorted smuggled cigarette products across Western Mindanao, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

PRO9 director, Brigadier General Bowenn Joey M. Masauding, said these were the result of 19 anti-smuggling operations conducted by members of the Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Offices and the Zamboanga City Police Office.

Two cases have been filed against the arrested suspects while the recovered smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for proper disposition.

The Zamboanga City Police Office accounted for the biggest arrest and seizures respectively with over a dozen arrest which led in the recovery of around P40 million worth of smuggled cigarettes

Last week, Masauding said another operation in the waters of Barangay Sinunuc, Zamboanga City led to the apprehension of five crewmen of MB Utoh Mat Mat found carrying 423 maser cases of President Red, Black, Yellow and Cannon Menthol Cigarettes valued at P14.8 million.

Members of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company, joined by officers from the Bureau of Customs made the apprehension, said the PRO9 director.

The 2nd operation saw officers from the PRO9 Regional Intelligence Division and the Leon Postigo Municipal Police Station intercepting a closed van found carrying 1,500 reams of New Far Cigarettes worth at least P750,000.

The van driver and his helper were placed under arrest after they failed to present any pertinent documents covering the transport of the cigarettes.

The 3rd operation in Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur led to the arrest of two men found carrying an estimated P140,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes on Wednesday last week.

“This is part of our stepped up campaign against cigarette smuggling in Zamboanga peninsula as ordered by Philippine National Police chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr.,” the PRO9 director said.

Acorda earlier ordered all concerned police units to further intensify their campaign against the smuggling and distribution of fake cigarettes in the country.

“The PNP under my leadership gives our full commitment to fight against smuggling and sale of illegal cigarettes. We will consider that as one of our primary considerations,” the top cop told a budget hearing at the House of Representatives.

As the premier law enforcement agency in the country, the PNP has been ordered by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. to curb smuggling and all forms of illicit trades nationwide.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Major Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. and all 17 Police Regional Offices have been given the responsibility to carry out the job, the Journal Group learned.

Arrested smugglers and distributors of fake cigarettes face criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), specifically in possession of smuggled goods and non-payment of taxes as well as RA 10643 or the illegal sale of cigarettes without a standard graphic health warning.

In his recent State-of-the-Nation-Address by President Marcos Jr. called on all government law enforcement agencies to run after smuggles and put them behind bars.

Following the presidential directive, the Police Regional Office 12 headed by Brigadier Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg Jr. seized some P6 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Barangay New Cuyapo in Tantangan, South Cotabato last August 29.

PRO12 agents last August 24 also recovered some P19.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Bgy. Bawing in General Santos City.

The PNP-CIDG has accounted for tens of millions worth of smuggled cigarettes nationwide.

Last August 18, CIDG operatives confiscated over P1 million worth of the contraband in Bgy. Maparat in Composetela, Davao de Oro.

Last May 30, PNP-CIDG agents in Cebu arrested a businessman in Danao City accused of involvement in the same illegal activity. Recovered from the suspect were some P700,000 worth of fake Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Company products.

Caramat said that those operations were in line with their flagship project Oplan: Megashopper which aims to curb smuggling and arrest the flow of counterfeit products in the country.

“Following the directive of Gen. Acorda, we are conducting aggressive and honest law enforcement operations against these economic saboteurs who seek to undermine the financial institutions and economic structure of our country,” the PNP-CIDG director said.

Other major anti-cigarette smuggling operations have been conducted by the PNP-CIDG in Davao, Calabarzon region, Cebu, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Camarines Sur and Bulacan since 2022.

Last September 12, nearly P3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were intercepted by patrolling Zamboanga City policemen last Tuesday during an anti-smuggling operation which also led in the arrest of four suspects.

Arrested on board a motorized wooden boat were Takam Julhakim,43; Mahajir Ahadin,39; Udjah Usab,54; and Mahsin Usman,48, all residents of Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Masauding said that members of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company who were on a seaborne patrol intercepted the four along the seawaters of Tumalutap Island past 10 p.m. last Tuesday.

The four were placed under arrest when they failed to present any papers covering the 84 master cases of New Berlin, Red Astro, Fort Menthol, San Marino, White San Marino and Cannon Menthol cigarettes they were carrying.

The cigarettes valued at P2,940 million reportedly ame from Jolo, Sulu and were to be brought by the four to Parang, Maguindanao.

The watercraft and smuggled cigarettes were taken to a local police station for safekeeping prior to their turnover to the Bureau of Customs.

The arrested suspects are now facing smuggling charges.

Earlier, Misamis Oriental (2nd District) Representative Yevgeny Vicente Emano said the proliferation of illicit cigarettes in Mindanao have affected thousands of tobacco farmers including many of his constituents.

“I am hoping to bring this to the attention of the DILG and PNP. The challenge for our tobacco farmers is they spent so much in inputs and labor and yet the proliferation of illicit cigarettes had been present not only in my province but in the city of Cagayan de Oro,” he said.

Emano, during the budget hearing showed photos of various brands of smuggled cigarettes that were being sold at P45 per pack in public places in Cagayan de Oo and Misamis Oriental compared to the legitimate local brands which are commonly being sold at P160 per pack.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon