OLONGAPO CITY – Five suspects were arrested while some P570,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized in an entrapment operation conducted by the the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group together with the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Barangay Old Cabalan here last Aug. 26.
CIDG-Olongapo chief Major Ace Christopher Baybayan said the entrapment was pursuant to Oplan Mega Shopper, a campaign against smuggling, manufacturing, distribution and trading of counterfeited items or products.
He identified those arrested as Roel Salazar y Go, the suspected financier, of 18th Street, Barangay New Kalalake, Olongapo City; Wayne Agustin y Villanueva, of Barangay Malhacan, Meycauayan, Bulacan; Joselito Pana y Ramos, an agent/broker of No. 1063 Mercury Lane, Barangay Sta. Rita, Olongapo, City; Junrey Jomalo y Paalisbo, of Barangay Pandayan, Meycauayan, Bulacan; and Joseph Divinaflor y Sy, also of Barangay Pandayan.
Baybayan said the law enforcers conducted the buy-bust at the Victory Liner parking lot whereby a poseur-buyer engaged the suspects in a transaction using 300 pieces of P1,000 boodle money and one genuine P1,000 bill.
Confiscated from the suspects were 60 boxes containing 5,400 reams of Furongwang cigarette brand manufactured by China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co. with estimated amount of P570,000; one silver Toyota Grandia commuter van (NAT 6245); one silver Foton Traveller van (NGF 2440); one black Mitsubishi Montero (CAQ 3750) and the boodle money.
All the suspects have been taken in custody by CIDG-Olongapo while facing charges for violation of RA 10836 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), Sec 4 of RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), RA 11346 (Increasing Excise Tax on Heated Tobacco Products,) and RA 10643 (Instill Health Consciousness through Graphic Health Warning on Tobacco Products).
