MORE than half a million pesos of alleged smuggled cigarettes were intercepted by operatives of the CIDG Zamboanga Del Sur and CIDG RSOT9 together with the local PNP units during a police operation on Tuesday (July 4, 2023) evening in Purok New Society, Brgy Culo, Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur.
In coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Department of Health (DOH), the operating team launched an entrapment operation that resulted in the arrest of PCpl Ladja Abdul Michael Taulani, 36, and Brown Edward Aquino Charles, 28, who were caught in the act of selling alleged smuggled cigarettes to a police undercover.
In a report to CIDG Director, PMGen Romeo M Caramat Jr, the said CIDG field unit received information that a certain police officer and his cohorts are engaged in the selling and distribution of said to be smuggled cigarette products in Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga Del Sur.
“Pagkatanggap ng ating mga operatiba ng nasabing impormasyon, ay agad naman silang nagsagawa ng surveillance para ma-validate ang report. Nang ma-confirm na ang report ay totoo o valid, ay ikinasa na nila ang entrapment operation laban kay PCpl Taulani na naka-assign sa Police Station 1 ng Zamboanga Citry Police Office at sa kaasama nitong si Charles,” says CIDG Director.
Confiscated from the possession and control of the arrested persons were the following pieces of evidence:
– Sixteen (16) master cases of Astro (Red) alleged smuggled cigarette products with an estimated total market value amounting to Php560,000.00;
– One (1) caliber .9mm;
– Two (2) magazine assemblies for caliber .9mm pistol;
– Twenty-Five (25) rounds of ammunition for caliber .9mm;
– One (1) brown Toyota Vios;
– One (1) white Ford Everest; and
– Boodle and marked money.
The arrested persons who are facing criminal complaints for violations of RA 8424 (Tax Reform Act of 1997) and RA 10643 (Health Graphic Warning Law), and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to CIDG ZDS PFU for documentation and proper disposition.
“Si PCpl Taulani ay maaari ring humarap sa kasong administratibo para sa kanyang involvement sa iligal na gawaing ito,” added PMGen Caramat.
The CIDG will be in its highest form of vigilance to ensure that no offender including erring personnel of the PNP shall continue their illegal acts by making sure that the anti-criminality campaigns of the Group will be intensified and implemented and the 5-Focused Agenda of CPNP, PGen Benjamin C Acorda Jr will be followed accordingly.
