Policemen have seized some PHP747,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in this city, a top police official said on Thursday.
Col. Paul Bometivo, city police director, said the smuggled cigarettes were seized around 4 p.m. Wednesday in Purok Quilantang, Barangay Calumpang.
Bometivo said cops, in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), received a tip from a concerned citizen about the existence of the smuggled goods being unloaded at the residence of a certain Faisal Olarte alias “Tata” in Purok Quilantang.
Police responded to the tip but the suspect was no longer in the place.
Olarte remains at large, Bometivo said.
However, the joint police – BOC team managed to confiscate 1,353 reams of smuggled cigarettes from Indonesia.
“We would like to commend our vigilant citizens who have been continuously helping us expose such unlawful activities in the city. Your information is of value to us,” Bometivo said.
The confiscated items were turned over to the BOC here for further investigation and proper disposition.
Source: Philippines News Agency