A 57-year-old man was arrested after being caught unloading boxes of illegal cigarettes worth about P715,000 in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, early Monday, May 4.
Police identified the suspect as alias “Bazer,” a driver/vendor and resident of Zamboanga City.
Personnel of the Kabankalan City Police Station responded at around 2:50 a.m. to a report from a concerned citizen about the unloading of cigarette boxes in Sitio Utod, Brgy. Hilamonan.
Upon arrival, police caught the suspect in the act of unloading cigarette products without the required graphic health warnings from a red Isuzu Elf drop-side truck.
Authorities said the items were in the possession of the suspect and were allegedly intended for distribution in the area.
The confiscated cigarettes were estimated to have a market value of about P715,000.
The suspect is now under police custody.
Police said charges for violation of Republic Act 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings Law, are being prepared against the suspect.*
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