Cops uncover illicit cigarattes while in pursuit of murder suspect

CEBU, Philippines — Police seized around P3.4 million worth of cigarettes allegedly sold without permits during a hot-pursuit operation in Barangay Tuyan, Naga City, Cebu shortly after noon on Wednesday, October 7.

The seizure was made by personnel of the Naga City Police Station, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Dexter Calacar, while searching for the suspect in the shooting of a Jordanian national identified by the alias “Malek” in the same barangay on October 6.

While conducting the operation, police noticed boxes filled with cigarettes piled beside the house of a neighbor.

Upon inspection, police found 33 boxes containing a total of 210 reams of various cigarette brands.

The seized items included 20 boxes of King Pen Menthol Cigarettes, 13 boxes of Canon Menthol Cigarettes, 50 reams each of Canon, Patron Black Menthol, Axis Menthol, and Walter Red cigarettes, and 10 reams of Harvey Menthol Cigarettes.

Police then asked the woman residing in the house to present the permits or documents authorizing the sale of the cigarettes, but she failed to produce the required papers.

The cigarettes were subsequently confiscated and brought to the Naga City Police Station for proper disposition. Police estimated their total value at P3.4 million.

According to the woman, she did not know where the cigarettes were purchased or where they came from. She said the cigarettes belonged to her live-in partner, identified by police as Kenhar Arasa, who was not at their house when the items were confiscated.

Meanwhile, police are still searching for two individuals in connection with the separate incidents. One is allegedly linked to the shooting of the Jordanian national, while the other is Arasa, who was identified as the alleged owner of the confiscated cigarettes. — /IHM (FREEMAN)