MANILA, Philippines – Pinaigting ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang operasyon laban sa smuggling matapos makasamsam ng ₱15.1 milyong halaga ng petrolyo at sigarilyo sa Batangas at Quezon, ayon kay Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. nitong Biyernes.
“Smuggling operations are often highly organized and use sophisticated methods to evade detection… One of our challenges is monitoring vast maritime and land borders,” ani Nartatez. “Through intensified intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination, we continue to strengthen our capability to detect and prevent these activities.”
Binalaan ni Nartatez na tuloy-tuloy ang pagtugis ng PNP sa mga sangkot sa iligal na kalakalan dahil “ang smuggling ay sumisira sa ekonomiya at nagnanakaw ng pondo ng bayan.”
Noong Oktubre 6, nakasamsam ang Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ng dalawang fuel tanker na may 40,000 litro ng diesel, unleaded, at premium fuel na nagkakahalaga ng ₱9.1 milyon sa Batangas. Sa Lucena City naman, naaresto ang isang Chinese national matapos makumpiska ang humigit-kumulang ₱6 milyong halaga ng smuggled cigarettes mula sa kanyang bodega.
“Every liter of fuel and every pack of cigarettes seized from smugglers is a victory for honest work, fair trade, and the Filipino people,” pahayag ni Nartatez. Santi Celario
