By Erma Edera Around P725, 000 worth of fake cigarettes left inside a parked van were seized by police in Tondo, Manila on Wednesday. Col. Rolando Magdaluyo, station commander of the MPD-Station 1 identified the driver of the van as Julito Octing, 34 and his helper as Anthony Pano, 34. Manila Police District Station 1 commander P/Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo inspects the boxes of fake cigarette seized from two suspects during an operation in Tondo, Manila, March 28, 2019. (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) Investigation showed that police were conducting an anti-criminality operation when they saw a white L300 van parked along Capulong Street in Tondo, Manila at around 10:30 p.m. Police said that they were able to confiscate 14,500 packs of fake cigarettes bearing the Marvels, Jackpot and Mighty brand. It was discovered that the cigarettes showed fake Bureau of Internal Revenue stamps and were ready for delivery to Binondo, Manila after they were placed in 29 boxes. According to the representatives of the legitimate manufacturers of the said brands, the cigarettes were fake. It was learned that the police had been conducting surveillance for a month and the suspects have been using different vehicles and loading other items in an apparent issue to confuse authorities, Magdaluyo said. The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act 8293 or the intellectual property code in relation to unfair competition and trademark infringement. Magdaluyo said they are still conducting surveillance work on warehouses suspected of storing different kinds of fake products intended for sale in Manila.