Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Palawan arrested three men allegedly involved in the sale of smuggled cigarettes during an operation conducted in the early hours of April 3 in Barangay Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City.
The suspects, whose names were withheld, are aged 21, 39, and 55, and are all residents of the city. Authorities seized from them five master cases of smuggled cigarettes without permits, valued at ₱82,500.
In addition, authorities also confiscated a .45 caliber firearm, ammunition, a silencer from one of the arrested suspects, as well as the vehicle used by the group.
Meanwhile, the suspects will face charges for violating Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, in relation to the Omnibus Election Code and COMELEC Resolution No. 11067 or the COMELEC gun ban.
