Two persons were arrested and three escaped after the police seized about P900,000 worth of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes at the Bago Public Market in Purok Malipayon, Brgy. Maquiling, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, Oct. 12.
The Regional Maritime Unit of the Police Regional Office-6 said Nasif Amer, 25, and his brother, Sadik, 21, both residents of Purok Gardenia, Brgy. Balintawak, Escalante City, were arrested at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Three individuals, identified as alias “Ben”, “Ricky”, and “Panta” escaped and remain at large.
The operation was conducted by the Bacolod Maritime Police Station operatives, together with the Human Resource Management Unit of PRO-6, Special Operations Unit, Sagay City Police Station, and representatives from Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs in Western Visayas.
Seized from the arrested suspects were 118 reams and 91 packs of various brands of cigarettes and a red tricycle.
The operatives also recovered 1,344 reams and 81 packs of abandoned cigarette brands.
The overall market value of confiscated cigarette brands was estimated at P892, 385, the police reported.
The suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Act.*