Police intercept P8-M smuggled cigarettes in Pangasinan
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Police intercepted a truck containing boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth over P8 million in a checkpoint in Labrador, Pangasinan on Wednesday night.
In an interview on Thursday, Police Major Divina Albino, chief of the Police Regional Office-1 information office, said authorities conducted a search of the impounded white Isuzu Elf closed van, driven by two Chinese nationals.
She said the arrested suspects include a 40-year-old businessman residing in Sampaloc, Manila, and a 44-year-old individual from China.
"During the operation, authorities discovered 101 boxes (5,050 reams) of illicit tobacco products consisting of 13 boxes or 650 reams of Modern Cigarette Menthol 100s, 49 boxes or 2,450 reams of Farstar Kingsize, 25 boxes or 1,250 reams of Modern 100 Black Menthol, and 14 boxes or 700 reams of Modern Menthol 100s in black and blue color combinations," she said.
The products have no required documents and did not pass through the Bureau of Customs (BOC), she said.
The products were turned over to the BOC as evidence for the filing of appropriate charges against the suspects, she added. (PNA)