By CESAR JOLITO III
Authorities uncovered another suspected cigarette production facility in Negros Occidental’s Bago City and separately recovered P2.3 million worth of abandoned smuggled cigarettes in San Carlos City.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided a warehouse at Purok Pulang Duta in Bago’s Barangay Lag-asan on Tuesday, May 12, following reports that the site was being used to manufacture counterfeit or untaxed cigarettes.
During the operation, authorities arrested a 29-year-old man identified only by the alias “Jo,” a resident of Barangay Villamonte in Bacolod City, who was believed to be the caretaker of the facility.
Seized from the warehouse were various materials allegedly used in cigarette production and repackaging operations, including hundreds of rolls of plastic wrapping materials, packaging tape, adhesive containers, glue, and other tobacco-related waste products.
Investigators also impounded a pickup vehicle and a wing van truck believed to have been used in transporting supplies and finished products.
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said the operation is connected to the ongoing investigation into the massive P800-million haul of cigarette manufacturing supplies recovered from separate warehouses in Bago and Bacolod on April 21.
Authorities said two alleged key figures in the operation, identified only as “Ber,” the reported warehouse owner from Bacolod, and “Ab,” an operations manager from Bago, remain at large.
A manhunt operation is ongoing.
Police officials said the latest raid indicates that illegal cigarette operations in Negros Occidental may involve a wider network of warehouses and distribution channels across the province.
PRO-NIR also appealed to the public to report suspicious warehouse activities and other possible smuggling-related operations to authorities as investigations continue.
More smuggled items
Meanwhile, in a separate anti-smuggling development, authorities in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City recovered approximately P2.3 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes abandoned along a roadside on Wednesday, May 13.
The contraband was discovered after a barangay official reported several unattended boxes in the area.
Responding police officers recovered five boxes of menthol cigarettes and 18 boxes of another brand, with each box containing 100 reams.
No suspects were arrested, as the individuals believed responsible had reportedly fled before authorities arrived.
Police said follow-up investigations are underway to determine whether the abandoned cigarettes are linked to larger smuggling operations currently being monitored./CJ, WDJ