Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) operatives seized ₱25 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested a truck driver during a pre-dawn raid in Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Monday, April 13.
The operation was spearheaded by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Unit, the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, Himamaylan City Police, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Acting on a tip from a confidential informant regarding a 10-wheeler wing van unloading contraband, operatives conducted surveillance and caught the suspect in the act.
The interception led to the discovery of approximately 500 master cases of cigarettes, which PRO NIR reported bore unauthorized tax seals and lacked mandatory graphic health warning labels.
Police identified the arrested driver as alias “Geo,” 43, a resident of Brgy. Masulog, Canlaon City. The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights and protections under the Anti-Torture Law in a language he understood.
All seized items were inventoried and documented on-site before the suspect was transferred to the custody of the RID for legal disposition.
PBGen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, PRO NIR Regional Director, commended the units for their swift response, noting that the breakthrough reflects the strength of intelligence-driven policing.
“This operation underscores our firm commitment to protecting government revenue and public welfare,” Ibay said. He warned that the PRO NIR will continue to intensify its campaign to ensure there is no “safe haven” for law violators within the Negros Island Region.*
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