• THERESA MAE DULMAN
At least P21 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes were surrendered at a police checkpoint along Purok Herbabuena, Circumferential Road, Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City, yesterday.
Authorities recovered 200 boxes of Tabaco and 15 boxes of Cannon cigarettes, after a white Isuzu 6-wheeler panel van stopped ahead of a police checkpoint.
The driver and helper voluntarily approached officers to report the cargo, stating they became suspicious of the packaging markings while transporting the items from an unknown warehouse.
The two informed their employer of their suspicions and were then instructed to proceed to Police Station 4.
The vehicle and its contents were taken into police custody for turnover to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for further verification.
Meanwhile, operatives seized an estimated P3,345,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and arrested a 32-year-old laborer during an anti-smuggling operation in Sitio Mapait, Barangay Suay, on Monday afternoon.
The suspect, identified only as alias ‘Joe,’ was apprehended by a joint task force led by the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) and the BIR.
Authorities caught the suspect in possession of 66 master cases and 45 reams of various cigarette brands including Tabaco, Cannon, and Conrad, all of which lacked the required BIR tax stamps.
The contraband was discovered inside a white Toyota Hi-Ace van, which was also confiscated by the operatives.*
