5 nabbed while transporting boxes of alleged fake cigarettes

LEGAZPI CITY — Eight boxes of alleged fake cigarettes were intercepted by barangay tanods (village watchmen) being unloaded by five people at the Codon Seaport in San Andres town in Catanduanes province on Sunday morning, a police report said.

Arrested for possession of undocumented counterfeit cigarettes were: Mostafa Bucay, 27; Bravo Alimusa, 24; Saidomar Sumalug, 28; Juhair Macadaag; and Khalil Ampaso, 31, all residents of Barangay (village) Pawa in Tabaco City in Albay province, according to Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson.

Alvin Surban, village councilman, reported to the police that at 8:40 a.m., they caught boxes of suspected fake cigarettes worth P205,600 being brought in by the suspects. The village authority said the alleged contraband will be delivered to various stores in the province.

The brand of suspected fake cigarettes were: Jackpot, Mighty, Winsboro, Marvel, and Fortune.

Surban said they arrested the suspects after failing to present shipment documents.