By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur – A major anti-smuggling operation led to the seizure of an estimated ₱3 billion worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes in a large-scale interdiction conducted on May 8, Friday, at Gothong Private Port in Barangay Talisay, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
The operation, considered one of the most significant anti-smuggling actions in the Caraga region, was carried out through a collaborative effort between the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO13), the Bureau of Customs (BOC13), and various other law enforcement agencies.
Maj. Jennifer Ometer,,PRO 13 iformation officer, told Inquirer in a phone interview, that the incident took place four days earlier on May 8 but the Police Regional Office 13 only posted it on May 11 due to the intricacy of the inventory of the large volume of the seized productsproducts.
A day earlier on May 7, a major bust against the illegal trade of contraband goods was made by the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO13), which successfully intercepted a shipment of smuggled cigarettes valued at P 7 million in an operation conducted early 7 in Purok 3, Baylanon, Barangay Cahayagan, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
The operation was prompted by a tip-off from a concerned local resident who reported suspicious unloading activities involving cargo from a pump boat.
Under the directive of Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), nationwide operations against Agricultural and Economic Sabotage (AES) were intensified, with a particular focus on smuggling activities such as illicit cigarette trade.
In response to this directive, PBGen Marcial Mariano P. Magistardo IV, Regional Director of PRO13, mobilized regional units and personally supervised the operation, emphasizing the PNP’s steadfast commitment to dismantling large-scale smuggling networks operating across the country.
Authorities apprehended 54 forty-foot container vans filled with a wide variety of foreign cigarette brands, including Modern, Nise, Boosku, and other undocumented goods that had been illegally transported into the country. These products, which have an estimated initial value of ₱3 billion, will undergo further verification and assessment by BOC examiners.
“This operation marks a significant accomplishment in our continued efforts to fight smuggling. It underscores the collaborative and vigilant approach of our law enforcement agencies in protecting our economy from illicit trade,” PBGen Magistardo IV stated.
The seized contraband is now in the custody of BOC-13 for proper documentation, inventory, and legal processing. Meanwhile, security over the seized container vans remains in the hands of the Agusan del Norte Police.
Ometer said , an extensive investigation is underway, with authorities working to identify those responsible for the shipment, distribution, and possible smuggling networks behind the illegal cargo. The operation serves as a testament to the ongoing fight against economic sabotage and the protection of the nation’s borders from illegal goods.
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