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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Naliligo sa pabango': Cops seize P700 M worth of 'smuggled' perfumes in Valenzuela raid

'Naliligo sa pabango': Cops seize P700 M worth of 'smuggled' perfumes in Valenzuela raid

Published Apr 11, 2026 02:15 pm
The sweet and fragrant smell coming out of an establishment in Valenzuela City may have betrayed the P700 million worth of imported perfumes believed to have been smuggled into the country during police surveillance operation.
As a result, around P700 million worth of imported perfumes were discovered and confiscated when operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided the establishment in  Barangay East Canumay around 8:30 p.m.
Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), described the operation as a significant hit against organized illegal trade, “This is a major blow to syndicates undermining our economy.”
"This is not only about unpaid taxes, we are protecting our local industries from unfair competition. We will not allow the Philippines to be a haven for illegal goods,” he added.
He said the intelligence suggests a large supply chain and police are now looking into documents to identify the areas and stores where the perfumes are being distributed.
The operation stemmed from information received from the Office of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) about the alleged illegal importation of the products, followed by a series of surveillance activities conducted by authorities.
After confirming the reported activities, the CIDG coordinated with the BOC for the issuance of a Letter of Authority, signed by Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno.
Police identified the suspects as alias “Allen,” a Chinese national, and an unidentified cohort, both currently at large.
During the raid, police found assorted imported perfumes suspected of lacking proper certification and regulatory compliance.
Samples of the confiscated items will be submitted to the DTI to verify whether these products comply with mandatory certification requirements, including the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Mark or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.
Police said quality control verification will also be conducted to ensure that the products meet Philippine National Standards (PNS) before distribution, in line with consumer protection measures.
“These uncertified products might also be dangerous. There’s no clearance from regulatory agencies that’s why we are not sure what kind of chemicals were used here,” said Nartatez.
“We are saving our consumers from potential hospital bills and long-term health issues,” Nartatez said.
All confiscated items are now under the custody of the Bureau of Customs for safekeeping.
A criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, is currently being prepared against the suspects for filing before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Valenzuela City. 

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PNP CIDG Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Smuggling Valenzuela City
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