Nasamsam ng mga awtoridad ang mahigit ₱3.5 milyon na halaga ng ilegal na sigarilyo sa isinagawang operasyon dakong ala una ng madaling araw ng Martes, April 28, sa Sitio Padang, Barangay Pulot Shore, Sofronio Española, southern Palawan.
Pinangunahan ang operasyon ng Sofronio Española Municipal Police Station (MPS), katuwang ang PNP 2nd Special Operations Unit-Maritime Group at Coast Guard Intelligence Palawan.
Unang nabili ng operatiba kay alyas Jay-R sa isinagawang buy-bust ang dalawang master case ng Berlin na nagkakahalaga ng ₱85,000.00.
Sa paghahalughog pa ng mga awtoridad, nakuha rin sa loob ng kwarto ng bahay ang 15 master case ng Fort na may halagang ₱637,500.00 at 67 master case ng New Berlin na may halagang ₱2,847,500.00.
Mahaharap ang suspek sa kasong paglabag sa RA 10643 o Graphic Health Warning Law.
Samantala, ang mga nakumpiskang sigarilyo ay agad na dinala sa Sofronio Española Municipal Police Station para sa karagdagang dokumentasyon, kasama ang suspek.
Hindi ito ang unang kaso ng pagkakasamsam ng ilegal na sigarilyo sa Sofronio Española, na patuloy na itinuturing na isa sa mga hotspot ng smuggling sa timog Palawan.
Noong mga nakaraang linggo, nakapagsagawa na rin ng magkakahiwalay na operasyon ang mga awtoridad kung saan nakumpiska ang milyun-milyong pisong halaga ng smuggled na sigarilyo sa parehong bayan, kabilang ang mga coastal area na pinaniniwalaang ginagamit bilang entry point ng mga kontrabando.
Ipinapakita ng sunod-sunod na operasyon na nananatiling aktibo ang distribusyon ng ilegal na sigarilyo sa lugar, kung saan ginagamit ang kombinasyon ng sea at land routes upang maiwasan ang mahigpit na inspeksyon.
Sa mas malawak na datos, nananatiling mataas ang antas ng illicit tobacco trade sa MIMAROPA, kabilang ang Palawan, kung saan malaking bahagi ng bentahan ng sigarilyo ay tinatayang hindi dumadaan sa tamang buwis at regulasyon.
Ayon sa mga awtoridad, ang ganitong operasyon ay bahagi ng mas pinaigting na kampanya laban sa smuggling, na hindi lamang nagdudulot ng pagkalugi sa kita ng gobyerno kundi may kaugnayan din sa mas malawak na ilegal na network ng distribusyon sa rehiyon.
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More than ₱3.5M worth of illegal cigarettes seized in an operation in Sofronio Española
Authorities seized more than ₱3.5 million worth of illegal cigarettes in an operation conducted around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, in Sitio Padang, Barangay Pulot Shore, Sofronio Española, southern Palawan.
The operation was led by the Sofronio Española Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with the PNP 2nd Special Operations Unit–Maritime Group and Coast Guard Intelligence Palawan.
Operatives initially purchased two master cases of Berlin cigarettes worth ₱85,000.00 from a suspect identified as alias Jay-R in a buy-bust operation.
A subsequent search by authorities inside the house led to the recovery of an additional 15 master cases of Fort cigarettes valued at ₱637,500.00 and 67 master cases of New Berlin cigarettes worth ₱2,847,500.00.
The suspect will face charges for violation of Republic Act 10643 or the Graphic Health Warning Law.
Meanwhile, the confiscated cigarettes were immediately brought to the Sofronio Española Municipal Police Station for further documentation, along with the suspect.
This is not the first case of illegal cigarette seizure in Sofronio Española, which continues to be considered one of the smuggling hotspots in southern Palawan.
In recent weeks, authorities have conducted separate operations in the same town, confiscating millions of pesos worth of smuggled cigarettes, including in coastal areas believed to be used as entry points for contraband.
These successive operations show that the distribution of illegal cigarettes remains active in the area, with both sea and land routes being used to evade strict inspections.
At a broader level, data show that illicit tobacco trade remains high in MIMAROPA, including Palawan, where a significant portion of cigarette sales is estimated to bypass proper taxes and regulations.
Authorities said these operations are part of an intensified campaign against smuggling, which not only results in government revenue losses but is also linked to a wider illegal distribution network in the region.
