3 held over alleged illicit cigarettes in Cavite

MAGALLANES, Cavite — Police arrested three persons and seized 165 reams of cigarette products allegedly lacking the prescribed graphic health warnings during an operation in Barangay Kabulusan here Sunday night.

Police said they received information at about 9 p.m. on 4 October that suspected illicit cigarette products were being delivered and unloaded in the area.

Responding personnel reportedly caught two men unloading boxes of cigarettes from a Mitsubishi Mirage. A woman believed to be the intended buyer or recipient was also identified during the operation.

Police said two additional boxes of cigarette products were later recovered from the woman’s residence.

An inventory showed 100 reams of D&J Red, 31 reams of D&J Green, 19 reams of Modern Red and 15 reams of H&P Red cigarettes.

Authorities also reported recovering P100,000 in cash during the operation.

The three suspects were taken to the Magallanes Municipal Police Station while documents are being prepared for the filing of appropriate charges related to economic sabotage and alleged violation of Republic Act 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings Law.