Basay:Police are preparing to file complaints against three men arrested in Basay, Negros Oriental, for allegedly transporting PHP3.09 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.

According to Philippines News Agency, Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, stated that the suspects remain in police custody in Basay. The suspects are expected to face complaints for alleged violations of Republic Act 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings Law, and Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The complaints will be filed with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) instead of in court due to the total worth of the seized contraband not reaching the PHP10 million threshold. The suspects, identified only by their aliases - Lom, 25, the driver; Joe, 41; and Ben, 40 - are all residents of Barangay Pook, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental.

The arrests occurred on November 1 during a joint operation at Sitio Lintob, Barangay Nagbo-alao, in Basay. This operation led to the seizure of 54 master cases of suspected smuggled Bosque cigarettes, following intelligence information received by the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office - Negros Island Region.

The operation involved multiple police units from municipal, provincial, and regional levels, alongside Bureau of Customs personnel. The smuggled cigarettes were reportedly being transported from Barangay Nagbalaye in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, to Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, in a blue truck.