CUSTOMS operatives raided a warehouse of fake branded cigarettes in Marilao, Bulacan, which has defrauded the government of rightful revenue of more than P108 million a month.
The raiding team found boxes of Marlboro, More, Fortune, Philip Morris, Jackpot, Hope and other assorted cigarettes to Philip Morris Philippines Inc. in a warehouse at Barangay Sta. Rosa 2 in Marilao, Bulacan.
PMFTC representative Solomon Dador Jr. confirmed that the confiscated cigarettes were all fake and being sold in the provinces in North Luzon at a very low price.
He said the manufacture of cigarettes has no permission from the Philip Morris International, and are therefore counterfeit.
The raiding team, lead by customs CIIS operative chief Joel Pinawin said, also found tons of raw materials to produce the cigarettes.
Dador said that more than 125,000 packs of assorted cigarettes were being transported to nearby provinces and were sold to small stores and public markets at a very low price.
The warehouse owner was not there when the raiding team arrived.