CIDG RFU-3 CONFISCATES P47.5M ILLICIT CIGARETTES IN TARLAC CITY

BY KEVIN GALANG

MEMBERS of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 3 (CIDG RFU- 3)  recovered two abandoned delivery trucks loaded with 679 boxes of suspected illicit cigarettes valued at P47.5 million during a follow-up operation in Bgy. Tibag, Tarlac City.

CIDG RFU-3 chief Col. Grant Gollod said the successful operation was part of their “Oplan Megashopper” drive.

Operatives of the CIDG RFU-3 as lead unit, with support from CIDG Tarlac Provincial  Field Unit headed by Maj. Arvin Hosmillo,   Bulacan Provincial Field units, the Tarlac City police, Tarlac Provincial Police Office, Police Intelligence Unit-Tarlac, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC), and the Philippine Tobacco Institute conducted the raid in Sitio Pag-asa, Sinipit, Bgy. Tibag, Tarlac City.

The follow-up operation stemmed from a buy-bust conducted by CIDG Bulacan PFU on February 8 in the same barangay, which resulted in the arrest of alias “Batista” and three others for violations of Republic Act  10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law), Republic Act 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), and Republic Act  8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines).

According to Hosmillo, the buy-bust was intended to entrap a certain “Jang Jang,” the alleged supplier of the previously arrested suspects. 

The initial transaction was set in Bgy. Maliwalo but the location was later changed to Bgy. Tibag. 

However, after waiting for nearly two hours, the suspect failed to appear, leading operatives to believe that the suspect may have sensed the presence of law enforcers.

While scouring the area, operatives spotted an Isuzu closed van and an Isuzu wing van parked inside an open garage about 100 meters from the supposed transaction site.

Upon inspection, the closed van’s panel door was found open, revealing boxes of suspected illicit cigarettes of various brands.

Despite efforts to locate the drivers or persons responsible for the vehicles, no individuals were found in the area. 

Recovered from the closed van with plate number CBA 3650 were hundreds of master cases of assorted cigarette brands, including Concord, Power, Marlboro with foreign markings, Troy, Playboy, TS, Modern, Carnival, Nelson, AB, Hommer, Marshal, and Black Hawk.

Meanwhile, the wing van with plate number CCE 7206 contained master cases of Fort, Troy, and Carnival cigarettes.

 In total, authorities seized 679 master cases of suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated value of P47.5 million.

The confiscated cigarettes were brought to the CIDG Tarlac office for inventory and proper disposition.