SMUGGLED CIGARETTES: Elements of the 2nd SOU-MG display the content of the assorted boxes of smuggled cigarettes they confiscated on December 3, 2018, in Balabac town. (Photo courtesy of 2nd SOU-MG)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Assorted boxes of smuggled cigarettes worth half a million pesos were seized recently by maritime police personnel along the shores of Balabac island municipality, southern Palawan.
Senior Supt. Greg Togonon, 2nd Special Operations Unit-Maritime Group (2nd SOU-MG) director, on Thursday said their operatives in Bataraza municipality seized 50 boxes of smuggled Fort and Bravo cigarettes last Sunday.
They were confiscated by the team of SPO3 Richard Rodriguez from two suspects along the shoreline of Dalahican Island, Barangay Pandanan in Balabac.
Togonon said the smuggled cigarettes were onboard an unmarked motorboat skippered by Karim Innoh, 34; and Jiya Doro, 56, who are residents of Sitio Marabon, Barangay Bancalaan, also in Balabac.
“The cigarettes were supposed to be transported to Bataraza but our team intercepted them,” he said.
Based on their initial investigation, the smuggled cigarettes are owned by a certain Harul Ismael, also a resident of Bataraza.
Togonon said Innoh and Doro will be charged with violating Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Ismael will also be invited for questioning.
He said the seized 14 boxes of Bravo cigarettes contain 700 reams, while the 36 boxes of Fort cigarettes have 1,800 reams.
The arrested persons are now under the custody of the 2nd SOU-MG in its Rio Tuba detachment, he added. (PNA)
