(Photos from Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group)
MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized P2.403-billion worth of counterfeit cigarettes and manufacturing equipment from facilities in Bulacan and Valenzuela in operations from November 6 to 7.
In a statement on Thursday, CIDG said its Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crime Unit (AFCCU) confiscated P1.245-billion worth of illegal cigarettes, production machinery and raw materials from a factory in San Rafael town in Bulacan province.
Moreover, 155 trafficked individuals were rescued from the plant.
READ: Fake cigarettes seized; 3 sellers nabbed
The plant was said to be capable of producing 12.9 million counterfeit cigarettes valued at P45 million daily.
An additional P1.158-billion worth of counterfeit cigarettes were recovered in three more separate operations in facilities in Valenzuela City, where authorities said the illegal products were distributed.
Among suspects arrested were foreign nationals: alias “Wu” at the Bulacan factory; and aliases “Yanliang”, “Rock”, “Zizhan”, “Zili”, and “Ziqiang” at the Valenzuela City facilities.
CIDG did not release a tally of the total number of suspects.
Authorities transferred the suspects to the AFCCU for processing and are preparing to file charges against the suspects for violating the Intellectual Property Code, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the National Internal Revenue Code.
The seized counterfeit products and manufacturing equipment are under the temporary custody of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which gave the mission order.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, CIDG Director, said, “This successful operation highlights our firm commitment to dismantling criminal syndicates that exploit vulnerable individuals and jeopardize public safety.”