P3.87-M ILLICIT CIGARETTES FOUND INSIDE ABANDONED VEHICLE IN PAMPANGA

BY KEVIN GALANG

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Some P3.87 million worth of suspected illicit cigarettes were seized by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 3 (CIDG RFU3) during the implementation of a search warrant at the impounding area of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 3.

According to CIDG RFU3 chief Col. Grant Gollod, the operation, conducted under Oplan MegaShopper, was carried out by CIDG RFU3’s Regional Special Operations Team, with the help of the San Fernando City Police Station.

Authorities implemented the search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 for violation of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Found during the search were 60 master cases of Far Star cigarettes, each containing 50 reams, along with a vehicle sales invoice, and a billing invoice.

Police identified the susp0ectsas alias “Egay,” the registered owner of a white Toyota Hi-Ace Commuter with plate number CAS-4662; alias “Digs,” the vehicle’s driver, and several unidentified individuals. 

Gollod said the operation stemmed from a request for assistance from LTO Region 3 after the vehicle was stopped in an anti-colorum checkpoint.

Authorities said the driver allegedly fled the scene, leaving the vehicle locked and unattended.

Suspecting the vehicle contained illicit tobacco products, CIDG investigators secured a search warrant to lawfully inspect its contents.

The search confirmed the presence of the large shipment of cigarettes, which authorities believe may have violated consumer protection and tobacco labeling law. 

Probers are now preparing the necessary documents for the filing of criminal charges for alleged violations of Republic Act 7394 and Republic Act 10864 before the Office of the City Prosecutor in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga against the suspects.