Police seized P881,400 worth of fake cigarettes from two men in San Andres Bukid, Manila, on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 10.
Members of the Manila Police District (MPD)-District Intelligence Division, Special Mayor's Reaction Team (DID-SMaRT) apprehended suspects Ryan Bongalos, 40, and Kurt Rancid Busano, 20.
Their two cohorts identified as Johnsen Arogante, 20, and Aldrin Atienza, 32, are still at large.
According to the police report, all suspects are residents of Zobel Roxas Street, San Andres Bukid.
The operatives conducted an entrapment operation in the house of the four suspects at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Two of the suspects were arrested while their two cohorts managed to escape through the house’s window.
The operation against the suspects was conducted after an informant had tested the counterfeit cigarettes that were bought from them.
The informant immediately reported to the police the rampant selling of fake cigarettes on Aug. 9.
Recovered from the suspects were 11 big boxes of different brands of cigarettes and P1,000 used as buy-bust money.
Authorities launched another operation to arrest the two remaining suspects.
Meanwhile, the arrested suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) and Section 168 of Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines).