CIDG seizes P41.8-M cigarettes, P1.1-M unregistered beverages

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) confiscated cigarettes worth P41.8 million and unregistered beverages worth P1.1 million in separate operations across the country.

The CIDG Bataan field unit arrested one suspect and seized cigarettes valued at P5.40 million in 160 master cases for lacking the graphic health warnings required by law last Thursday in Barangay Bangal, Dinalupihan town, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Likewise, cigarettes worth P19.12 million in 478 boxes that also lacked the required graphic health warnings were confiscated in Digos City by the CIDG Davao del Sur field unit, arresting six suspects last Friday, police added.

Also on Friday, according to the police statement, the CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit seized 252 master cases of cigarettes valued at P15.25 million for allegedly violating the Intellectual Property Code and the National Internal Revenue Code in Tondo, Manila.

Then, on Sunday, the CIDG Sarangani field unit seized 141 boxes of allegedly smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Malandag, Malungon town and arrested three suspects, the police said.

READ: Police seizes P58.7-M worth of fake cigarettes, 25 `uncleared’ laptops

In another statement on Tuesday, the CIDG said authorities seized nearly 400 boxes of coffee, juice and cider beverages that were not registered with the Food and Drug Administration during a raid on a warehouse in Barangay Tiaong, Guiguinto, Bulacan last Saturday.

The raid also yielded the arrest of the warehouse owner, who was Korean, and two Filipino employees, the police said.