In a recent surge of enforcement actions, the police in Negros Oriental have ramped up their efforts to combat the smuggling of cigarettes. This intensified campaign follows the arrest of a suspect in Amlan town’s Barangay Tandayag during a buy-bust operation on Tuesday, where authorities seized 20 reams of suspected smuggled King Master and Dunston cigarettes. The operation was part of a broader initiative led by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, aimed at curbing the influx of illegal cigarettes into the province. Earlier, six individuals from Basilan were apprehended off the coast of Basay town with 200 boxes of Dunston Red cigarettes. These individuals are set to face charges under Section 10 of Republic Act 10643, which prohibits the sale of such products. Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), emphasized the ongoing vigilance of law enforcement in monitoring coastal areas to thwart further smuggling attempts and protect the province from the illegal entry of goods.
