BOC seizes fake cigarettes

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently confiscated 31,986 packs of fake cigarettes during a raid on a building in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

BOC Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement that they staged the raid after receiving a tip that the fake cigarettes were smuggled into the country and stashed in a building at the intersection of Old Antipolo and Pedro Guevarra streets in Sta. Cruz.

The raid was supported by a letter of authority signed by BOC Commissioner Alberto Lina and a mission order Nepomuceno signed, the BOC said.

During the Oct. 15 raid, a woman identified only as Linda presented documents indicating that the four-story building was owned by Paloma General Merchandise. 

The raiding team found the smuggled cigarettes being sold as Marlboro Red, Marlboro Lights, Marlboro Lights Menthol, Philip Morris, Fortune Menthol, Fortune Lights, Fortune Blue, Jackpot Menthol, Jackpot Red, Hope, More, Fortune Red, Marlboro Black Menthol and Mighty Menthol 100s.