DUMAGUETE CITY — Law enforcement agencies seized an estimated P15 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and arrested three people during a joint port operation Wednesday night, police said Thursday.

Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office spokesperson Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar said authorities intercepted the suspects after they arrived at the Dumaguete port aboard a roll-on, roll-off vessel from Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

Police identified the suspects as alias “JM,” a truck driver from Pagadian City; alias “Joy,” a passenger from Pagadian City; and alias “AA,” a passenger from Parang, Sulu.

“We received intelligence information around 7 p.m. Wednesday that a truck carrying undocumented cigarettes was bound for Dumaguete City,” Polinar said. “The RORO vessel docked at about 10:36 p.m., prompting law enforcement personnel to flag down a green Canter truck for inspection.”

Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers discovered master cases of undocumented cigarettes hidden beneath 200 boxes of dried fish valued at P90,000.

The seized cargo included 68 master cases of Walter Premium cigarettes and 195 master cases of Busqu Full Flavor cigarettes.

Polinar said the suspects have not disclosed the consignee for the shipment.

The three individuals face charges under Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law), Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), and Republic Act 12022 (Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act).

The joint operation was conducted by NOrPPO alongside the Police Regional Office — Negros Island Region, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority Police, Maritime Police, and local police units.

The Coast Guard holds custody of the confiscated cigarettes pending formal turnover to the Bureau of Customs.