THE Philippine National Police announced it has recovered suspected smuggled cigarettes in Batangas province and during a follow-up operation in Malabon worth more than P2 billion.
In the first press statement, the PNP said they are conducting hot-pursuit operation for the recovery of a carnapped Hyundai vehicle in Batangas City last December 31 when their operatives also stumbled on several cargo trailers and a container van later found to contain suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at more than P1.1 billion.
The PNP said the Special Operations Division of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG-SOD) and the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4A (RHPU 4A), in coordination with Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A), successfully located and recovered the red Hyundai Accent (NGN-6169) in Sitio Singko, Balete, Batangas City.
The vehicle had been reported missing by its registered owner, a resident of Las Piñas City, Metro Manila.
During the site inspection, the PNP said its police personnel, with the assistance of Barangay Kagawads, observed several other vehicles in abandoned condition, including trailers and a container van.
When opened, the van revealed stacks of suspected smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P1.1 billion, the PNP statement added.
Acting Chief PNP PLTGEN. Jose Melencio Nartatez, together with Bureau of Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement, retired police general, Nolasco Bathan, the next day announced the arrest of 3 suspects during their follow-up operation at the TALA Cargo Solution facility in Mayhulo, Malabon. Smuggled cigarettes worth some P1.5 billion was also confiscated.
The statement, however, did not made clear if the values refer to two separate seizure operations or the final tally from the cigarettes first discovered in Batangas.