By BACOLOD CITY – Three police operations in the cities of Bacolod and Himamaylan in Negros Occidental yielded a total of PHP49.3 million in smuggled cigarettes, reports of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) showed.
“The two were hired by an unidentified individual to transport the cargo from an unknown warehouse. Upon noticing suspicious markings on the boxes, they immediately informed their employer, who instructed them to proceed to Bacolod City Police Station 4,” the investigation report said.
The smuggled cigarettes surrendered by driver “Mar” and his helper “Ky” comprised 200 boxes of Tabaco cigarettes and 15 boxes of Cannon cigarettes with an estimated value of PHP21 million, Around 5:20 a.m., operatives arrested truck driver alias “Geo,” 43, a resident of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, while transporting about 500 master cases of cigarettes found to bear unauthorized tax seals and lacking the required graphic health warning labels.
