A STRING of anti-smuggling operations conducted by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group across the country last week led to the confiscation of nearly P91 million worth of suspected smuggled and illegally-manufactured tobacco products, PNP-CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander A. Morico II said on Tuesday.
The official said that they also arrested 15 suspects, including three Chinese nationals, in the continuing crackdown against cigarette smuggling and economic sabotage as ordered by PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr..
Morico said the contrabands, which were described as either sub-standard or smuggled cigarettes, were recovered in operations in the provinces of Bulacan, Sulu, Laguna, Camarines Norte, Pampanga, Davao, Agusan and Palawan.
He said that the CIDG Regional Field Unit 9 recovered 56 master cases of smuggled cigarettes valued at around P3 million in Indanan, Sulu last Thursday.
CIDG operatives also confiscated some P1 million worth of the contraband and arrested four suspects in Laguna, Camarines Norte and Pampanga on the same day.
Las Friday, Bataan CIDG agents raided a warehouse in Marilao, Bulacan, where they recovered 1,286 master cases of assorted illegally-manufactured cigarettes worth P80 million and arrested two Chinese nationals.
Also recovered by the CIDG in Agusan, Pampanga and Palawan provinces were an estimated P7.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes. Eight suspects including a Chinese national were arrested during those operations.
Morico said the confiscated cigarettes lacked the required Graphic Health Warning signs in violation of Republic Act No. 10643, violated provisions of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and were found to be unregistered with the Department of Trade and Industry.
They also lacked documentary stamps from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. (BIR).
Meanwhile, in Tarlac City, CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 chief Col. Grant Gollod said some P47.5 million worth of illicit cigarettes were seized in Bgy. Tibag, Tarlac City. Alfred Dalizon and Bernard Galang
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