Assorted fake cigarettes, raw tobacco materials and cigarette packing machines with an estimated value of P1.3 billion were intercepted by operatives of the Bureau of Customs-Enforcement and Security Service (BOC-ESS).
Armed with a Letter of Authority issued by the BOC, ESS agents inspected on May 28, 2020 a warehouse said to contain fake cigarettes at Brgy. Palattao, Naguilian, Isabela.
Intial inventory showed roughly 2,000 master cases of assorted cigarettes; 10 units of cigarette-making machines; 12 units of cigarette packing machines; and 300 boxes of tobacco raw materials were stored in the warehouse.
The goods were immediately intercepted by Customs for lack of permit and violation of Customs laws.
The operation was coordinated with officials of the Barangay Palattao, the Philippine National Police Isabela Police Provincial Office and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
