Three men were arrested after authorities seized P8.8 million worth of cigarettes allegedly concealed behind sacks of red onions inside a wing van truck in Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Friday, Sept. 25.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) also confiscated 150 sacks of red onions found at the rear of the truck during an entrapment operation in Brgy. 3.
Authorities are verifying whether the onions were used to conceal the cigarette shipment, as well as their source, ownership and compliance with transport and importation requirements.
Police identified the arrested suspects as aliases “Rey,” 32, and “Virgil,” 32, both residents of Zamboanga del Norte, and “Gery,” 46, of Valenzuela City.
The operation began at around 2:15 a.m. when CIDG operatives posing as buyers allegedly purchased one master case each of Modern Red and New Berlin Red cigarettes from the suspects.
Police subsequently recovered 155 additional master cases of New Berlin Red and 19 master cases of Modern Red cigarettes, bringing the estimated market value of the seized cigarette products to P8.8 million.
The CIDG said the cigarettes lacked the graphic health warnings required under Republic Act 10643, while the suspects allegedly failed to present documents authorizing their possession, distribution or sale.
Authorities also seized the wing van truck, marked buy-bust money and other evidence.
The 150 sacks of red onions were confiscated separately, pending verification by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry.
The operation was led by CIDG Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit Officer-in-Charge Maj. Christopher Dulagan, with support from other police units and the Isabela Municipal Police Station.
The suspects were brought to the CIDG Negros Occidental office for proper disposition and the filing of complaints for alleged violation of the Graphic Health Warnings Law.*
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