By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

Smuggled cigarettes worth an estimated P1.95 million were seized from a warehouse in the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City’s Barangay 8 on Saturday, June 20.

The operation also led to the arrest of 56-year-old alias “Eglen,” a resident of Zamboanga del Norte’s Dipolog City; 39-year-old alias “Drandreb,” from Zamboanga Sibugay; and 28-year-old alias “Rhea,” a resident of Bacolod’s Barangay Sum-ag.

Operatives recovered 20 plastic bags containing native red cigarettes, with 400 packs in each bag.

Police Major Rhojn Darrell Nigos, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the suspects claimed they were merely guarding the warehouse.

However, authorities failed to arrest the warehouse owner, who had already left the area.

Nigos said the warehouse was being used to store “ukay-ukay” or used clothing, but illegal cigarettes were also being kept there.

The suspects are detained at the CIDG custodial facility.

The seized cigarettes are also in police possession for proper disposition.

Operatives are still conducting a hot pursuit operation against the warehouse’s owner./MAP, WDJ