This unlicensed warehouse in Sta. Maria, Bulacan yielded packs of cigarettes, which authorities are verifying if fake or smuggled. Police also arrested three Chinese men and four Filipino workers in the warehouse while loading the cigarettes onto a truck. PHOTOS FROM PNP BULACAN
STA. MARIA, Bulacan–Three Chinese nationals and four Filipino workers were arrested after they were caught with packs of cigarettes at an unregistered warehouse in this town on Wednesday (May 26), police said.
In a report on Friday (May 29), police said they trailed one of the suspects, a certain Nino Castillo, who was wearing a police athletic uniform.
Castillo was later spotted helping the other suspects load several packs of Mighty and Moon Cigarettes onto a truck around 4:30 p.m.
Police identified the Chinese as Jianju Chen, Jiancai Shi and Wuzhi Hi. The other Filipino workers were identified as Cris Rosales, Elmer Andy and Julio Domalaon.
The cigarettes are reportedly owned by Japan Tobacco Industry (JTI) while the warehouse at the village of Partida was believed to be operated by G20 Environmental Solutions.
Police said the warehouse’s owner has no business permit to operate and the suspects were not wearing facial masks while working.
Authorities have already coordinated with JTI and the Bureau of Customs to verify if the cigarettes were fake or smuggled.