Four individuals were arrested and more than P13.7 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes were seized in an anti-illicit trade operation in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported on Saturday, April 18.
The operation was conducted on Friday, April 17 at Wild Duck Resort in Brgy. Pook, where authorities caught the suspects in possession of large volumes of cigarettes without the required Bureau of Internal Revenue tax stamps .
Arrested were alias “Fat,” 39, a native of Jolo, Sulu, alias “Bry,” 40, a driver from Zamboanga Sibugay, alias “Pip,” 57, a resident of Bacolod City, and alias “Rom,” 43, also from Zamboanga Sibugay.
Seized during the operation were two Isuzu Elf six-wheeler panel vans and a total of 275 master cases of cigarettes, including 188 cases of Canon Black Menthol and 87 cases of Canon Menthol, each containing 50 reams.
Authorities said the items were properly inventoried on-site in the presence of witnesses, while the suspects were informed of their rights and taken into custody for proper disposition.
The confiscated cigarettes were turned over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue Region 12 in Bacolod City for further processing.
Police said the operation was conducted through intensified intelligence monitoring and coordination among multiple units, as part of efforts to curb illegal trade and protect government revenue .*
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