ILOILO City – Police arrested a 25-year-old man and confiscated nine boxes of alleged illicit cigarettes during an anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Apgahan, Patnongon, Antique on Saturday, August 29.
Authorities identified the suspect by the alias “Koma,” a resident of San Jose, Antique.
Intelligence operatives from the Patnongon Municipal Police Station (MPS) launched the operation at around 1:15 p.m. following a tip-off from a barangay kagawad regarding the presence and transport of illegal cigarettes in the area.
Seized from the suspect were nine master cases containing a total of 900 reams of “Cannon” brand cigarettes valued at approximately P900,000.
The suspect and the confiscated evidence were turned over to the Patnongon MPS. Koma will be charged for violation of Sections 262 and 263 of Republic Act No. 8424, or the National Internal Revenue Code.
The Patnongon operation, meanwhile, was among the 77 anti-smuggling operations executed by the Police Regional Office 6 across Western Visayas from 6 a.m. on August 29 to 5:59 a.m. on August 30, which yielded a total of P935,610 worth of confiscated contraband./PN
