2 Chinese nat’ls nabbed for P8M smuggled cigarettes
PLARIDEL, Bulacan — TWO Chinese nationals on Friday were arrested for repacking and reselling smuggled cigarettes worth more than P8 million in an entrapment operation on Bypass Road, Bgy. Bulihan, Plaridel, Bulacan.
In a report to CIDG Regional 3 chief Col. Jovit Culaway by CIDG Provincial Officer Lt. Col. Dave Mahilum, the suspects arrested in the “Oplan Megashopper” were truck helper Cai Shi Chuan, 39, a resident of Bulatok Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur and truck driver Chen Peirong, 42, of Mayon Street, Quezon City. Both suspects are natives of Fujian, China.
Mahilum said the operation was conducted after the management of Phillip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation or PMFTC INC filed a complaint against the alleged illegal repacking and reselling of their products.
Confiscated from the two suspects were 260 cartons of Modern cigarettes with 50 reams in each carton and five cartons of Fortune cigarettes worth at least P2,675,000; a P1,000 marked and boddle money; a White Isuzu Elf Truck, and another container truck containing 535 boxes of Modern cigarettes worth P5,350,000.
The Chinese men were brought to CIDG Bulacan PFU for further investigation and proper disposition.
The suspects will be charged with violations of Art. 189 of the Revised Penal Code, R.A 7394, R.A 8293 and R.A 1937, were brought to CIDG Bulacan PFU.
