By JEN BAYLON
Authorities seized more than P2.34 million worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes from three individuals at Barangay San Juan in Negros Occidental’s Binalbagan town on Tuesday morning, October 29.
The arrested were identified as 42-year-old Al Zubair Amilasan; his helper, 40-year-old Al Abdul; and driver, 44-year-old Renato Gaan.
Amilasan and Abdul are residents of the town’s Barangay Progreso, while Gaan resides in Isabela town’s Barangay 1.
The operation recovered several cartons of smuggled cigarettes.
Police Captain Reynaldo Bauden Jr., officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City-Negros Occidental Maritime Police Station, indicated that the cigarettes likely originated from Mindanao and were being transported to other regions, including Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, Regional Maritime Unit in Western Visayas chief, Colonel Ervin Glenn Provido said one suspect sourced the supply from Mindanao and distributed it to vendors across the province.
The suspects failed to present any legitimate documents for the cigarette importation, Provido said.
They will face charges for violating Republic Act 10863, or the Customs and Modernization and Tariff Act./JB, WDJ