• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Police recovered more than P2 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes in the cities of San Carlos and Escalante as well as Candoni town, all in Negros Occidental on Aug. 31.
In San Carlos City, 33 master cases of alleged smuggled Native cigarettes valued at P1.98 million were discovered inside a gray Nissan van parked at the port.
The confiscation came after a joint operation of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine National Police Maritime Group and the local police.
This led to the arrest of two suspects identified through their aliases “Nurhamin,” 30, and “Alsaif,” 24, both residents of Toledo City, Cebu.
Inventory showed that each master case contained 60 reams of cigarettes.
A 65-year-old businessman, identified as alias “Kevin,” voluntarily surrendered 20 reams of Camel cigarettes to police at Purok Antipolo, Barangay Balintawak, Escalante City.
The illegal cigarettes were estimated to be worth P12,000.
Alias “Julius, a 41-year old vendor, voluntarily surrendered 10 reams of Bosqu Red cigarettes, with a market value of P6,000, to the Candoni Municipal Police Station. | GPB
