Police operatives arrested four individuals and confiscated illegal cigarettes and suspected shabu during separate law enforcement operations in Nueva Ecija and Bataan conducted by units of Police Regional Office 3.
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Police operatives arrested four individuals and confiscated illegal cigarettes and suspected shabu in separate operations conducted in Nueva Ecija and Bataan on March 27 and 28, authorities said.
In Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, three individuals were arrested by personnel of the Cuyapo Municipal Police Station during a mobile patrol and OPLAN SITA operation around 12:05 a.m. on March 28 along the Cuyapo–Talugtug Road in Barangay Columbitin.
Police officers noticed several boxes of cigarettes in plain view inside a parked vehicle. Upon verification, the driver failed to present legal documents for the transport of the items, prompting authorities to place the suspects under arrest.
Recovered from the vehicle were 30 master cases of Modern Light cigarettes with an estimated street value of Php690,000. The suspects are facing charges for violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and the Anti-Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.
Meanwhile, in Orani, Bataan, a high-value drug personality was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted around 9:45 p.m. on March 27 in Barangay Doña.
The operation was carried out by joint operatives from the Orani Municipal Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit, the Bataan Police Provincial Office Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, the Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Bataan.
Authorities arrested the suspect after selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover operative. Seized during the operation were approximately 54 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of Php367,200, along with marked money and other drug paraphernalia.
Inventory and marking of the evidence were conducted on-site in the presence of required witnesses in accordance with established procedures.
Police Brig. Gen. Jess B. Mendez, regional director of the Police Regional Office 3, commended the operating units for the successful operations, noting that the accomplishments support the operational priorities of the Philippine National Police.
“These operations reflect our strong commitment to address both illegal drugs and illicit trade through intelligence-driven and coordinated law enforcement efforts. We will remain relentless in our operations while ensuring that every action is lawful and responsive to the needs of our communities,” Mendez said.
He added that authorities will continue to intensify their campaign against all forms of criminality to ensure a safer Central Luzon. (Jason de Asis)