Trader held for transporting fake cigarettes in Ecija
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija — A 33-year-old businessman is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines after he was caught by authorities while transporting alleged fake cigarettes worth P24,000 during Oplan Sita operations conducted here on Wednesday.
In a report to Col. Jaime O. Santos, provincial police director, Major Rammel L. Ebarle, town police head said the arrested suspect, identified as Jay Cabral, 33, married, was nabbed along the San Antonio-Zaragosa road at a checkpoint in Bgy. San Francisco at 8:30 a.m.
He was flagged down while driving a Kawasaki Bajaj tricycle (kolong-kolong) carrying three large boxes which after inspection yielded fake Mark cigarettes, consisting of 50 reams each box, estimated at P24,000.
Ebarle said the suspect was immediately arrested after failing to present the necessary legal papers pertaining to his illicit cargo.
