FAKE CIGARETTE FACTORY RAID

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) office in Manila initially filed administrative charges Monday against 24 Chinese nationals found working in a factory of fake cigarettes in Barangay Unzad, Villasis, Pangasinan was raided on Nov. 18.

Paulino Verzosa, alien control officer for Pangasinan based here, said the 24 Chinese nationals were all found working in the making of fake cigarettes in violation of Philippine criminal laws and administrative regulations from different agencies of the government including the BI.

He said the preliminary investigation by the BI was conducted on Nov. 20 where the Chinese nationals were represented by their lawyer named Atty. Edmundo Magpantay.

The fake cigarette factory was raided by composite team led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) with the BI, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
“The place was a mango farm but at the middle were hidden several warehouses and barracks. Inside the warehouses were several machines for the production of cigarettes and tons of finished cigarettes ready for sale, paraphernalia and materials for the making of cigarettes,” Verzosa said in his affidavit submitted to BI main office.
BOC personnel and representatives of Philip Morris confirmed that the cigarettes produced in the factory were all fake.
When BI demanded for t their immigration documents, only one was able to present his passport with a tourist visa valid until December.

Verzosa said only the identities of 21 out of the 24 Chinese nationals were established but these can only be confirmed by their travel documents.  Three refused to give their names.

In his affidavit, Verzosa said the 24 Chinese nationals were caught in flagrante delicto “doing acts inimical to the interest of the State and in violations of the conditions of their stay in our country.”

The arrested Chinese nationals are currently in the custody of BI office in San Fernando City, La Union.

The criminal charges will be filed separately in courts in Pangasinan, he added.

The Bureau of Customs is reportedly also set to file separate administrative and criminal charges against the Chinese nationals based on findings of Philip Morris technicians.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue is also set to sue them for unpaid taxes. (Tita Roces)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments