CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – The Police Regional Office-13 confiscated smuggled cigarettes worth P80,000 loaded on a motorcycle with sidecar in Barangay Quirino, Madrid, Surigao del Sur, on Sunday, September 10.
Police arrested the motorcycle driver after he failed to present documents to transport them. His identity was temporarily withheld pending the arrest of his cohorts.
The Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO), quoting a report from the Madrid Municipal Police Station (MMPS), said the contraband, 100 reams of white Fort cigarettes, 43 reams of Hero red cigarettes, and 25 reams of white Champion cigarettes, stored in four boxes was intercepted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Management-Surigao del Sur-Provincial Field Unit (CIDG SDS PFU) and MMPS around 10:50 a.m.
Suspect and confiscated contraband are in the custody of CIDG-SDS-PFU for proper disposition while investigation and follow-up operations are ongoing.
Police are preparing appropriate charges against the driver and his cohorts for violation of Republic Act No. 8424, the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, and RA No. 10643, An Act to Effectively Instill Health Consciousness Through Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft said, “PNP Caraga will not stop fighting smugglers,” adding, “We will work hand-in-hand with other law enforcement agencies as well as other members of the criminal justice system to put them in jail.”