• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Police authorities seized an estimated P380,000 worth of suspected illegal cigarettes and arrested two individuals, following a brief chase during checkpoint operation in Bago City, Negros Occidental on Thursday, May 21.
Police report said operatives attempted to flag down a white Toyota Revo, but the vehicle sped away, prompting authorities to launch a hot pursuit operation.
The fleeing vehicle was eventually intercepted by the police along the highway in Barangay Pacol.
The driver failed to present a valid driver’s license as well as pertinent vehicle documents during inspection.
PCapt. Bonifacio Galvez, one of the responding officers, noticed several boxes inside the vehicle after the driver opened the window.
The occupants later admitted that the boxes contained 23 cases of illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of P380,000.
The two arrested suspects, both residents of Barangay San Vicente in Binalbagan, are under police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges.
Authorities have yet to determine the origin and intended destination of the confiscated illegal cigarettes. | GB
