Pililla cops seize P2.7-M worth of illegal China cigarettes
Alleged illegal China tobacco cigarettes worth P2.7 million were confiscated from two individuals during a checkpoint operation in Pililla, Rizal on Saturday, May 23.
Authorities confiscate alleged illegal China tobacco cigarettes from a vehicle during a checkpoint operation in Pililla, Rizal, resulting in the arrest of two individuals for violation of Republic Act No. 9211, in relation to Republic Act No. 12022. (Photo from Rizal PPO)
The Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) said a driver and a sales boy were arrested for violating Republic Act No. 9211, or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, in relation to Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
They were arrested by Pililla police during a checkpoint along Pakil-Jalajala Road in Barangay Halayhayin, Pililla at around 11:53 a.m.
Recovered from the Toyota HiAce they were riding were 27 boxes of China tobacco cigarettes.
Authorities said each box contained 50 reams of cigarettes, with an estimated total value of P2,700,000.
Rizal PPO Provincial Director Col. Atty. Eleazar Barber Jr. vowed to continue strengthening checkpoint operations and intelligence monitoring to ensure that illegal activities have no space in the province of Rizal.