CIDG: P600,000 worth of 'substandard' cigarettes seized in Valenzuela

Police seized around P600,000 worth of what they described as substandard cigarettes following the arrest of five people in an entrapment operation in Valenzuela City on Friday, April 4.
Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the operation stemmed from confirmed intelligence reports about the involvement of the five suspects in selling the substandard cigarettes.
An entrapment was then mapped out in Barangay Maysan which resulted in the arrest of the five suspects.
Seized during the operation were three vehicles, 60 master cases of substandard cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱600,000.
Torre urged the public to report all illegal trade of cigarettes and other tobacco-related violations.
He said the arrested suspects will be charged for violating Republic Act No. 8424 (National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended) and Republic Act No. 10643 (Graphic Health Warnings Law), for engaging in prohibited tobacco trade and sale without the required graphic health warnings; and violations related to tax evasion and untaxed cigarette sales.