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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider P21-M smuggled cigarettes seized; 7 Chinese and 27 others arrested in Batangas raid

P21-M smuggled cigarettes seized; 7 Chinese and 27 others arrested in Batangas raid

Published Nov 24, 2023 04:00 am

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna- Over P21 million worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes was seized and 34 individuals including seven Chinese nationals were arrested when authorities swooped down on a cigarettes factory and warehouses on Thursday, Nov, 23, in Barangay Adia and Barangay Pansipit in Agoncillo, Batangas.

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P21-M worth of cigarettes were seized, and 34 people, including seven Chinese, were arrested as authorities swooped down on a cigarette factory and warehouses on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Adia and Pansipit villages in Agoncillo, Batangas. (Photo via Danny Estacio)  

Police Regional Office 4A (PRO4A) reported that the arrested Chinese nationals were identified as Charlie, Zhou, Huan, Li, Vmo Hai, Xiap, and Yao, while their Filipino cohorts were identified as Warren, Benjie, Santiago, Jerome, Melsergs, Jess, Robert, Jomarey, Johannes, Nilo, Melvin, Ronald, Charlly, Richard, Gerald, Ruiel, Sherbert, Bernard, Feliciano, Mike, Jomar, Edward, Charlie, Ruvic James, Niky, and Aljen.

Ruvic James, Niky, and Aljen were arrested during the buy-bust operation by joint police operatives and personnel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 9A-CABAMIRO.

The Chinese nationals and other Filipinos were caught in a follow-up operation around 7:30 a.m.

Authorities confiscated 331 boxes of cigarettes categorized as illicit whites as per the Bureau of Inyernal Revenue at the Adia warehouse, and 341 boxes - two Moon and Modern categorized as illicit whites as per BIR) were confiscated at the Pansipit warehouse with an estimated value of P21,858,200.00.

Violation of sections 144,262, and 263 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997-Cigarettes smuggling led to the conduct of the operation through a BIR mission order.

The raiding teams were composed of members from the Agoncillo Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Division-Regional Special Operations Unit-4A, Batangas Intelligence, and the BIR.

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