CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Over P1.1 billion worth of cigarettes believed to be counterfeit, along with manufacturing equipment, were seized from at least four Chinese nationals and a Filipino cohort who were arrested during a joint search warrant operation inside a warehouse facility in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Friday morning, April 10.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 identified the arrested foreign suspects as Wu Guoan, Shenghai Yuan, and Liang Xia, all of whom work as equipment specialists for cigarette packing machines. Also arrested was a certain Ziqian Zhang, who is said to be their general manager. They are currently residing in the said barangay.
The arrested Filipino cohort was identified as Lynne Dela Cruz Chang, 55, a resident of Lapu-Lapu City and also the general manager of the raided industrial park.
Confiscated during the operation were thousands of assorted items, including large bundles and boxes bearing suspected falsified tax stamps and a variety of cigarette products.
Also recovered were at least three stamping machines and a container transport van loaded with thousands of cigarettes.
Authorities confirmed that all seized items were valued at approximately P1.1 billion and were immediately marked and accounted for at the scene for documentation and further investigation.
PRO-7 said the operation was carried out pursuant to a search warrant issued by the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court, Branch 27, dated April 8 of this year.
The said warrant was implemented by PRO-7 in coordination with operatives from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Lapu-Lapu City Field Unit, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), and the Bureau of Customs 7 from around 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Currently, the arrested suspects are detained in the custody of the LCPO. They will be charged with violations under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification by a private individual and the use of falsified documents.
The seized items, on the other hand, were temporarily left at the premises as they are in bulk and the office is currently lacking sufficient storage.
The regional police, however, assured that the items are being closely guarded to maintain their evidentiary value for the upcoming legal proceedings.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., said the operation reflects the police force’s intensified efforts to shut down illegal manufacturing activities that compromise government revenue and public trust.
“Hindi natin palalagpasin ang ganitong kalaking operasyon. Malinaw na panlilinlang ito hindi lang sa gobyerno kundi sa mamamayan. We will go after those who think they can hide behind warehouses and illegal schemes,” Nartatez said in a statement.
The PNP chief also issued a stern warning to the public and businesses participating in or supporting illicit trade.
“Sa mga negosyante at mamimili, maging mapanuri tayo. Kapag masyadong mura o kahina-hinala ang produkto, malamang ilegal ito. Huwag nating tangkilikin ang ganitong gawain dahil lahat tayo ang naaapektuhan,” he said.
Furthermore, the PNP also assured that operations against counterfeit and illegal products will continue as part of its focused agenda and in support of the national government’s directive to intensify law enforcement and protect legitimate industries.
| Nicholas Jon Malaga/IHM (Photo by Romeo Marantal)
