A POLICE officer is among four suspects arrested in connection with the seizure of allegedly smuggled cigarettes valued at P20.15 million, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) announced on Monday.
The operation took place in Negros Oriental and Iligan City.
HPG Director Col. Hansel Marantan revealed that police tracked down a truck in Barangay Nagbola-ao, Basay, Negros Oriental last Saturday, discovering it was carrying the smuggled goods. While the driver and porter of the vehicle managed to evade arrest, authorities were able to identify the truck owner and are currently conducting an investigation.
The operation was based on intelligence reports and a mission order from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The involvement of a police officer in the smuggling operation raises serious concerns about corruption and potential collusion within law enforcement agencies.
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