Davao raid yields P24-million fake cigarettes

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — At least P24 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes were seized in a series of raids jointly conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Bureau of Customs Southern Mindanao office on six warehouses in the Chinatown district here early yesterday morning.

Authorities said the raids yielded more than 500 cases of fake cigarettes of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. and JTI Corp. (Mighty and Marvel) brands and illicit whites.

With the street value of the seized fake cigarettes placed at P24 million, the government lost approximately P11 million in excise taxes.

The seized contraband reportedly had fake tax stamps while the illicit whites were said to be without any tax stamp.

The drive against counterfeit cigarettes continues as another enforcement action took place in Davao City showing the pervasiveness of the illegal trade following the series of excise tax increases on cigarettes since 2013.

The raids were conducted by virtue of 42 search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court XI Branch 107 Judge Retrina Fuentes to the CIDG against the seven target warehouses.

Of the seven that were identified, however, only six yielded contraband, located along F. Bangoy Street in the city’s Chinatown area and Cervantes Street in Agdao district.

The stores that were reported to be positive for the contraband were identified as Leo Lee Sy Planet Motorcycle, RDFG General Merchandise, King Roy Marketing, Wee Bldg. and an unnamed warehouse, all on F. Bangoy Street; and a warehouse on Cervantes corner Lapu-Lapu Streets in Agdao.

Meanwhile, a search at JGY Bldg. in Barrio Obrero yielded negative results.