P21-M smuggled cigarettes surrendered in Bacolod checkpoint
SMUGGLED cigarettes valued at P21 million were voluntarily surrendered to police in a checkpoint in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City on Tuesday, April 14. (PRO-NIR)
BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office said smuggled cigarettes valued at P21 million were voluntarily surrendered in a police checkpoint on Tuesday, April 14, in Purok Herbabuena, Circumferential Road, Barangay Villamonte here.
According to the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), a white Isuzu six-wheel panel van stopped a few meters before the checkpoint.
The driver, identified only as Mar, along with his helper Ky, approached lawmen and revealed that their vehicle was carrying allegedly smuggled cigarettes.
Initial investigation showed that they were hired by an unidentified individual to transport the cargo from an undisclosed warehouse.
They noticed suspicious markings on boxes and informed their employer and ordered to proceed to Police Station 4. They saw the checkpoint and reported the matter to authorities.
The shipment—composed of 200 boxes of Tabaco cigarettes and 15 boxes of Cannon cigarettes—were placed under the custody of Police Station 4 and awaiting turnover to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for verification.
Meanwhile, police arrested a 32-year-old laborer in Sitio Mapait, Barangay Suay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, for transporting suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P3.3 million in a van on Tuesday.
The contraband, which lacked the required Bureau of Internal revenue tax stamps, was discovered a day after smuggled cigarettes worth approximately P25 million was recovered in Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City on Monday.
The PRO-NIR urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to the illegal tobacco trade.