1.76M worth of fake cigarettes seized in Nueva Ecija

Authorities seized P1.76 million worth of fake cigarettes in two separate checkpoint operations in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday morning.

In Zaragoza town, authorities discovered that a 12-wheeler truck contained 147 boxes of assorted Chinese-brand cigarettes.

The driver and his helper were arrested after they failed to present any legal documents for the possession and transport of the cigarettes with an estimated value of P1,764,000.

The suspects are under the custody of the Zaragoza Police Station and will face charges for violating the Tobacco Regulation Act.

“Let these individuals go to jail to teach them a lesson that illegal activities will not be tolerated in Nueva Ecija,” said P/Colonel Ferdinand Germino, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office director.

Meanwhile, a 43-year-old male was arrested after authorities found he was transporting counterfeit cigarettes worth P62,800 in his tricycle.

The suspect disregarded the checkpoint along Pangasinan-Guimba Road near Barangay Curva and claimed that the boxes he was transporting were used clothes.

However, he failed to present supporting documents.

The confiscated products included four master cases of a certain cigarette brand.

The suspect will face charges for violating the Tobacco Regulation Act.

“Let this be a warning to those who are engaged in this kind of illegal business; you will be caught,” Germino said.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News