Three men and 1 woman were arrested after seizing nearly P1.2-million worth of suspected counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes in Botolan town, Zambales.
According to provincial director Police Col Romano Cardiño, the Special Task Group Intensified Cleanliness Policy obtained a report that there were illegally sold smuggled cigarettes suspected to be counterfeit. In coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry, the police launched an operation to track down the suspects.
Police intercepted 2 vans on Zambales-Tarlac Road. The vans stopped, and when they opened them, operatives saw boxes of cigarettes. However, the 4 occupants of the 2 vans could not show any papers.
In all, about 30 boxes were recovered, equivalent to about 1,500 reams or thousands of packs of cigarettes.
Authorities are finding out where the source of the cigarettes is.
According to the police, such an operation is important because if counterfeit products enter the market, the country’s economy will be further affected.
The 4 suspects are facing charges of violating the Intellectual Property Rights Code.
Last month, nearly 200 cartons of smuggled cigarettes were seized in two separate operations by the police and the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga City.
Almost P1.2-M counterfeit, smuggled cigarettes seized in Zambales
Authorities caught a boat in the ocean in Barangay Baliwasan with a load of 90 cartons of various types of cigarettes.
An hour later, a boat loaded with 70 cartons of cigarettes was also caught in Barangay Mariki.
The boat crews did not show the relevant documents so they were placed in the custody of the BOC.
Various agencies have already conducted a joint inventory with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which also put up paneling to determine if there are drugs in the seized cigarette cartons.
It is estimated that the smuggled cigarettes cost P5.6 million.
Last week, the Bureau of Customs in Cebu province destroyed more than P90 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes.
The destruction was carried out at the Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc facility.
Counterfeit cigarettes were seized at the Port of Cebu last June and arrived in the country on two separate shipments from China.
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