BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recovered suspected smuggled cigarettes worth more than P500,000 and seized firearms and a gun replica in two separate operations conducted here recently.
Operatives of the BCPO’s City Intelligence Unit (CIU) seized an estimated P519,000 worth of alleged illicit cigarettes from an abandoned house in Florence Ville Subdivision, Barangay Pahanocoy, at around 10:44 p.m. on March 2.
According to the police report, CIU personnel were conducting intelligence monitoring in connection with the service of a warrant of arrest when they noticed an unidentified man carrying a large brown box while exiting the dark and seemingly uninhabited house.
When approached by operatives, the suspect reportedly fled toward the upper cemented stairs of the structure and escaped, leaving the box behind. Upon inspection, authorities found the box contained assorted illicit cigarettes.
Further inspection of the premises led to the discovery of several more boxes in plain view containing additional cigarettes believed to be smuggled.
The confiscated items were turned over to the appropriate government agencies for proper disposition.
In a separate operation at about 6:16 a.m. on March 3, operatives of Police Station 4 implemented a search warrant at Purok Mahinagpanon, Barangay 23.
Led by Police Major Marc Joeil A. Reclamado, station commander, authorities raided the residence of a 51-year-old man known by the alias “Marlon.”
The operation resulted in the recovery of assorted firearms and a gun replica.
Proper charges are now being prepared against the suspect, who is currently in police custody.
Intelligence reports indicated that the suspect is allegedly linked to previous hold-up incidents in the city.
The BCPO said it will continue to intensify intelligence-driven and enforcement operations against illegal trade and firearm-related offenses in Bacolod./PN
