CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- At least P6 million worth of untaxed cigarettes were confiscated by joint police operatives in Barangay Santos, Balagtas, Bulacan, Tuesday, December 3.
In his report to Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Police Regional Office III (PRO3-) acting director, Lt. Col. Renante Pinula, head of Special Concerns Unit-Regional Intelligence Division III, said Balagtas Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Battalion III, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Bureau of Internal Revenue raided a warehouse in Fonchun Industrial Compound at said barangay.
Pinuela said that the 245 master cases of untaxed cigarettes include the cigarette brands Modern, Far Star (filter), Far Star (Mentholated), R.G.D. D&B, F&S.
The owners of the warehouse identified as a certain John Lee and other John Does who will be filed appropriate charges were nowhere to be found during the operation, Pinuela said.
The Central Luzon top cop added that that the Philippine National Police – Police Regional Office III along with other government agencies are intensifying its monitoring to prevent the entry of contraband in the region.---Ric Sapnu