By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY—Authorities seized several reams of illicit cigarettes worth PHP 50,700 in a buy-bust operation at a public market in Barangay 1, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday.
The suspect, identified as alias “Mario,” 20, of Barangay Carol-an, was arrested during the operation.
Police recovered 77 reams of assorted cigarettes and PHP 500 in marked money.
Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO), said the operation was led by the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) for violations of Sections 1113(f) and 113 of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Section 1113(f) states that goods imported or exported illegally, along with items used in such transactions, are subject to seizure and forfeiture.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the Kabankalan City Police Station, Maritime Group SOU 4, and personnel from the Bureau of Customs-6.
The confiscated items were placed under the custody of the Kabankalan City Police Station, pending verification and the filing of charges against the suspect.
Catalogo said authorities are also investigating whether the suspect had accomplices in selling the contraband.