San Francisco, Agusan del Sur — A 19-year-old man was arrested during a joint law enforcement operation on Tuesday night, May 27, for selling illegal cigarettes in Barangay Alegria, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 Director PBGen Christopher N. Abrahano identified the suspect only by his alias “Danilo,” a resident of Purok 11 in the said barangay. He was apprehended around 8:45 p.m. in a buy-bust operation conducted in nearby Purok 10.
The operation was carried out by members of the Regional Special Operations Unit 13, San Francisco Municipal Police Station, and the Naval Intelligence and Security Unit 13.
Authorities confiscated 165 reams of smuggled cigarettes from the suspect, with an estimated market value of ₱87,500. Also recovered from the scene was the marked money used during the transaction.
Danilo will face charges for violating Republic Act 10643, or the “Graphic Health Warning Law,” which mandates clear and standardized health warnings on tobacco packaging and prohibits the sale of unregistered tobacco products.
“With unity, we can curb the selling of smuggled and illicit cigarettes in the region. If you know of any activity involving illegal cigarettes, please report it to the nearest police station,” said PBGen Abrahano.
Since January this year, PRO13 has confiscated over ₱1.8 million worth of illicit tobacco products as part of its intensified crackdown on the illegal cigarette trade across the Caraga region.