The Bureau of Customs Saturday raided a warehouse in Nueva Ecija that manufactured counterfeit cigarettes and seized fake cigarettes valued at P1 billion.
At least 20 Chinese nationals and 100 Filipino workers were arrested during the raid who were suspected to be engaged in manufacturing counterfeit cigarettes, according to Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
He said the Chinese nationals were believed to be behind the illegal operations and hired locals to work in the warehouse in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.
Seized were three boxes of fake BIR stamps, 5 lines of cigarette making machine with 3 machines per line, 6 lines of packing machines, 1 filter making machines, 1 mixer, 1 dryer and raw materials believed to be used in making counterfeit cigarettes.
“Also seized were undetermined quantity of counterfeit cigarettes of various brands with estimated value of P1 billion,” he said.
BOC-ESS is currently conducting an inventory of the seized products and will investigate further to determine the appropriate cases to be filed in relation to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The Bureau of Customs is committed to prevent the entry of illegal and prohibited goods, Guerrero said.