• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Personnel of the PNP Highway Patrol Group seized cigarettes suspected to be smuggled worth P25 million on October 11, which were found abandoned in Basay City, Negros Oriental.
In a report submitted to the PNP Highway Patrol Group, the Regional Highway Patrol Unit- Negros Island Region said that they responded to information that four panel vans were abandoned at Purok 6 in Barangay Nagbola-ao, Basay, Negros Oriental.
Initial investigation of the HPG showed that only one of the four panel vans was loaded with large boxes of various brands of smuggled cigarettes, including Victor Agila American Blend cigarettes.
PLt. Edwin Santos, RHPU-NIR intelligence chief, told DYHB RMN- Bacolod that about 500 large boxes of cigarettes were found inside in one of the abandoned vans.
Each box containing cigarettes was valued at P50,000, based on estimates of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, according to Santos.
The seized Hino panel van with plate number JAA 2009 and its load of boxes of cigarettes is now under the custody of the RPHU-NIR at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.
Prior to the seizure, the PNP Highway Patrol Group coordinated with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which issued a mission order for them, to conduct operations against violators of RA 12022, known as Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act.
On Oct. 4, police also seized more than P11 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Brgy. Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Authorities confiscated 190 boxes of Fort, Pure, and Berlin cigarettes loaded at a Fuso panel van.
In previous months, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also seized approximately P4.7 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. 2, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.*
