• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Personnel of the PNP Maritime Command seized about P2.2 million worth of imported cigarettes that were intercepted Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Brgy. San Juan in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
PCapt. Reynaldo Bauden Jr, chief of the PNP Maritime Command station in Negros Occidental, said that their joint operation with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the local police also led to the arrest of three suspects.
He identified the suspects as Alsober Almasan, Renato Gaan and Al Abdul.
Bauden told Aksyon Radyo that he received reports that Almasan is the alleged biggest supplier of imported cigarettes in Negros Occidental.
Initial investigations of the PNP Maritime Command showed that the shipment of imported and smuggled cigarettes originated from Zamboanga.
In coordination with BOC, Bauden said they will file charges against the three suspects for violation of RA 10863, otherwise known as Modernizing the Customs and Tariff Administration Act.
Last month, fake cigarettes worth P900,000 were also by the Maritime Command personnel, in Barangay Makiling in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. | GB
