CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Two suspects were arrested and 147 boxes of illegal cigarettes worth some P1.7 million were seized at a police checkpoint in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija on Dec. 10.
Police report said personnel from the 2nd Maneuver Platoon and Zaragoza Municipal Police Station intercepted a truck carrying illegal cigarettes at around 5 a.m. on the Sta. Rosa-Zaragoza Road in Barangay Carmen.
The driver and helper, identified only as “Vin” and “Mon,” failed to present proper documentation for the truck’s cargo comprising 147 boxes of Chinese cigarettes worth approximately P1.7 million, prompting the police to arrest them.
The suspects face charges for violation of RA 9211 (Anti-Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003).
Lauding the operations, Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan enthused: “Pinupuri ko ang mabilis na aksyon ng ating mga kapulisan sa Zaragoza MPS, katuwang ang 1st PMFC ng Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, sa matagumpay na pagsasagawa ng checkpoint operation na nagresulta sa pagkakaaresto ng dalawang suspek at pagkakasamsam ng malaking halaga ng ilegal na sigarilyo.”
“Ang operasyong ito ay nagpapakita ng ating dedikasyon sa pagpapatupad ng batas, lalo na sa pagsugpo sa mga ilegal na aktibidad na nagpapahina sa ating ekonomiya at kalusugan ng mamamayan,” he added, vowing to intensify further the campaign against illegal cigarettes.
“Patuloy nating paiigtingin ang ating kampanya laban sa ilegal na sigarilyo alinsunod sa RA 9211. Tinitiyak natin sa publiko na ang inyong PNP ay walang sawang maglilingkod para mapanatili ang kaayusan at kaligtasan ng ating komunidad,” said Maranan. PRO-3
