POLICE Regional Office (PRO)-Central Luzon Director Valeriano De Leon said 50 boxes of assorted smuggled Two Moon cigarettes worth more or less P700,000 were seized in a joint follow-up operation by operatives of PIU/Intel, Gen. Natividad Police Station and Regional Investigation Division of Regional Revenue 4 on November 6.

De Leon added that a follow-up operation was conducted by the operating team in a warehouse in Barangay Kabulihan, General Natividad, Nueva Ecija owned by one Arthur Bautista, ice dealer, that resulted in the confiscation of the 50 boxes of cigarettes without BIR stamps.

On November 5, authorities arrested Antonio Bautista, also an ice dealer and resident of Barangay Kabulihan, General Natividad, Nueva Ecija. He is a brother of Arthur.

Seized from Antonio were 25 packs of Two Moon Red Star and seven packs of Two Moon Blue Star cigarettes without pertinent permits and documents.

Arthur and Antonio are now facing charges for violation of Tobacco Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9211) and Sections 258 and 263 of the National Internal Revenue Code as amended.

De Leon said the PRO-Central Luzon, along with other government agencies, is intensifying its monitoring to prevent the entry and proliferation of contrabands in the region. (PR)