P1 billion fake cigarettes, tax stamps seized

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities seized P1 billion worth of fake cigarettes and tax stamps during a raid on a factory in Alicia, Isabela on Saturday.

The stamps, both local and foreign, indicated that the cigarettes were being exported to other countries, authorities said.

A team composed of the local police and Bureau of Customs personnel conducted the raid based on information supplied by villages about the factory in Barangay Victoria.

Earlier, authorities arrested four Chinese in a raid on a rice mill that was converted into a factory of fake cigarettes in nearby Naguillan town.

The raid in Barangay Palattao resulted in the recovery of P1.3 billion worth of fake cigarettes, raw tobacco materials and cigarette-making and packing machines.

The suspects were identified as Wu Jia Jun, 26; Steven Tan, 32; Chen Qong Gong, 37, and Wu Ya Hui, 25, all of Fokien, China.

Cagayan Valley region police director Brig. General Angelito Casimiro said the suspects claimed they were Koreans.

The raid was conducted after village residents informed authorities that they saw Chinese men hauling boxes believed to contain fake cigarettes from the rice mill.

Authorities said 191 workers from Mindanao were hired by the suspects to work in the factory.

The Chinese were turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation.