8 Sinos yield P50-M smuggled cigarettes

Eight Taiwanese and Chinese nationals were arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in raids on two warehouses in Ilocos Norte last Tuesday, where about P50 million worth of smuggled imported cigarettes were seized.

Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango, acting CIDG chief, identified the suspects as Benson Tang, the warehouses’ alleged owner; Stanley Tan, Alex Dy Tang, Wu Wei Kang, Kou Ya In, Wang Xiu Nun, Xie Li Wen, and Shi Jun Wei.

Tango said in a report to Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao that the two warehouses located at the port in Barangay Pias Sur, Currimao, Ilocos Norte were raided by virtue of a warrant issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Eugenio.

The CIDG raiding team, led by Senior Superintendent Noel de los Reyes of the CIDG’s Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crime Division, seized some 80,000 reams of State Express 555 cigarettes and 20,000 reams of Mild Seven cigarettes, among other brands.

Aside from cigarettes, Tango said his men also seized liquors such as Henessey, Chivas Regal, Remi Martin and Martel. — Cecille Suerte Felipe