P57M WORTH OF SMUGGLED CIGARETTES INTERCEPTED IN ANTIQUE

JOINT operatives of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Saturday intercepted three closed vans carrying smuggled cigarettes valued at more than P57 million during a checkpoint operation in Bgy.  Poblacion, Belison, Antique.

The anti-smuggling operation was spearheaded by 1st Antique Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st APMFC) under the leadership of Lt. Col.  Conrado Rances III, with the support of the Antique Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), Belison Municipal Police Station, and the BIR Antique District Office headed by ARDO Asnawie M. Mamongcara.

The operation was the result of a three-day surveillance conducted by authorities following a tip from a confidential informant regarding the transport of illicit cigarettes in the province.

Based on the initial investigation, the smuggled cigarettes originated from Zamboanga City and were intended to be distributed in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Authorities successfully arrested seven suspects, including the three truck drivers, all from Negros Occidental.

Confiscated during the operation were the three closed vans, 1,142 boxes or 576,020 packs of assorted illicit cigarettes such as BOSQU, FORT, Cannon Menthol green, New Mega green, New Mega red, Delta Regular red and Thunder red.

The seized contraband has an estimated value of P57,150,000.

The suspects now under the custody of the Belison Municipal Police Station while the confiscated items are placed under the custody of the BIR for proper disposition.

Police Regional Office 6 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan commended the swift coordination among law enforcement and revenue authorities.

“This successful operation demonstrates our firm commitment to protecting government revenue and dismantling smuggling networks that undermine our economy. PRO6, in partnership with the BIR, will continue to intensify anti-smuggling operations across Western Visayas to safeguard our communities and ensure that those involved in illicit trade are held accountable,” said Ligan.