The police intercepted a vehicle carrying more than P460,000 worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes after it fled from a checkpoint in Bago City early Thursday morning, May 21.
Bago policemen flagged down a white Toyota Revo during a checkpoint operation along the national highway at Rafael Salas Drive in Brgy. Balingasag at around 2:45 a.m.
Instead of stopping, however, the driver sped away, prompting police to launch a hot pursuit operation.
The vehicle was later intercepted along the highway in Brgy. Pacol, Bago City.
Authorities said a couple from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, were on board the vehicle and were traveling from Bacolod City toward southern Negros.
Police said the driver failed to present a valid driver’s license and vehicle documents.
Officers also noticed several boxes inside the vehicle, which the couple admitted contained cigarettes.
Recovered from the vehicle were 23 boxes of alleged illegal cigarettes with an estimated value of P460,000.
The two are currently detained at the Bago City Police Station and faces charges for disobedience to a person in authority after allegedly fleeing the checkpoint.
Police Lt. Col. James Latayon Jr., chief of the Bago City Police Station, said they will coordinate with the Bureau of Internal Revenue regarding the proper disposition of the confiscated cigarettes.
Latayon said authorities are still determining where the cigarettes came from and where they were supposed to be delivered, although initial information showed the couple was heading south toward Binalbagan.*
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