• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Authorities recovered approximately P594,000 worth of illicit cigarettes from an abandoned panel truck in Sitio Tapol, Barangay Salong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Aug. 20.
Personnel from the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and the Kabankalan City Police Station (KCPS) responded to a tip from a concerned citizen regarding a suspicious Mitsubishi panel truck that had been parked on a private property for nearly five days.
When operatives inspected the truck, they discovered 22 master cases containing 1,100 reams of contraband cigarettes.
The seized items and the vehicle were temporarily placed under the custody of the KCPS pending formal turnover to the appropriate government agency.
“We remain relentless in disrupting the movement of illicit goods,” Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region director, Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, stressed in a statement. “Every successful recovery protects legitimate businesses, safeguards government revenues, and reinforces our commitment to a safer and more secure NIR.” | TMD
