MORE THAN P2 million worth of illegal cigarette reams were intercepted by Task Force Davao and Davao City Police Office officers manning the Sirawan checkpoint in Toril at 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 17.
Capt. John Louie Dema-ala, the spokesperson of Task Force Davao, said a total of 4,250 reams of illegal cigarettes packed inside 85 boxes were seized from suspect Romel B. Penetrante, 43, married, and Robert B. Penetrante, 25, single, both residents of Barangay Sasa, Buhangin District.
The seized illegal contrabands have an estimated street value of P2,125,000.
According to the report, the duo was riding a white Isuzu elf van with plate numner KAL 7571 heading toward Davao City when flagged down by the personnel manning the checkpoint.
With the rising numbers of smuggling-related arrests, Task Force Davao commander Col. Darren E. Comia vowed to continue the intensified checkpoint operations at all border control points to prevent the entry of all illegal items and affect the economy of Davao City.
Meanwhile, Oliver Rosos Opias, 32, single, a resident of Purok 13, San Roque, Barangay Tibungco, was also arrested, this time at the Lasang checkpoint in Bunawan for possessing illegal drugs at 12:45 a.m. of the same day.
Intercepted from his possession was a sachet of suspected shabu weighing around 0.09 grams with an estimated street value of P1,440. Opias was on board on passenger bus traveling toward Davao City.
The suspects and pieces of evidence were turned over to the respective police stations for proper disposition.
