CAMP ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan — Authorities confiscated nearly P2 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes, assorted smuggled goods and arrested five individuals in a joint enforcement operation in Plaridel town late Thursday night (March 26).
Based on a report Friday (March 27), the operation was led by the Plaridel Municipal Police Station (MPS) with support from the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) Bulacan and representatives from Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC), stemmed from a complaint by the property owner regarding suspicious nighttime activities involving the storage of alleged fake and untaxed cigarettes inside a rented compound in Brgy. San Jose in the said town.
Upon verification and inspection, operatives discovered multiple boxes of cigarettes in plain view. On-site validation confirmed the presence of counterfeit and untaxed Marlboro products, in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, particularly Sections 263 and 265. Additional violations include breaches of Intellectual Property Rights laws, Republic Act No. 7394, and Republic Act No. 10643.
Among those arrested were a Chinese national identified as the tenant, along with 4 Filipino workers and a driver. All suspects failed to present proof of tax payment or lawful documentation for the goods.
Authorities confiscated counterfeit cigarette products and various untaxed brands, including Green Commando, Cannon, Mighty, Two Moon, Delta, and others, amounting to approximately ?812,500.00.
Also recovered were assorted consumer goods suspected to be counterfeit or non-compliant, including rubber shoes, food seasonings, instant noodles, and perfumes, with an estimated value of P1,091,080 bringing the total value of seized items to P1,903,580.
PRO3 Director P/Brig. Gen. Jess B. Mendez emphasized that the operation reflects the intensified campaign against economic sabotage and illicit trade, in line with the directives of SILG Juanito Victor C Remulla Jr and PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio C Nartatez Jr.
“Hindi po natin papayagan na magamit ang ating rehiyon bilang imbakan o daluyan ng smuggled at pekeng produkto. Patuloy nating paiigtingin ang ating operasyon—legal, koordinado, at may malasakit sa mamamayan dahil ang ating Pulis Central Luzon ay nagbibigay ng serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman,” Gen. Mendez added. (UnliNews Online)
