P27.6M illegal cigarettes seized in Central Luzon

Some P27.6-million worth of illegal cigarettes were seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in two separate operations in Central Luzon on 5 November.

In the Province of Bulacan, the CIDG Regional Field Unit 4A and the CIDG Regional Field Unit 3, along with Bureau of Internal Revenue and Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC) Inc. conducted an operation in Bulacan.

The operation led to the arrest of “Lin” male, 39 year old, Chinese national in a warehouse-also his residence- located at Cruz St., Brgy. Poblacion, Guiguinto, Bulacan.

The operation was conducted by virtue of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BİR) Mission Order for violation of Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines), Republic Act 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law), Republic Act 9211 (Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003) and Republic Act 8424 (National Internal Revenue Code).

The authorities confiscated 384 master cases of assorted tobacco products, with estimated total value of P26,880,000.00.

Meanwhile at around 10:30pm, the CIDG Bataan Provincial Field Unit conducted buy-bust operation in Brgy. Panilao, Pilar, Bataan that resulted in the arrest of “Mitch” female, 41 years old, residing in the same place.

The suspect was selling tobacco products, which are allegedly not in conformity with consumer products standards- a violation of Republic Act 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines).

Assorted cigarettes worth P730,100.00 were confiscated by the authorities.