PHILIPPINES
Operatives of the Philippine Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 3 with local police office and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) raided a factory producing counterfeit cigarettes in the RIS Compound Barangay Tabe, Guiguinto.
Initially believed to be a warehouse for illicit cigarettes, the place turned out to be a counterfeit factory at the back end of the site.
The raid was conducted based on information about the factory discretely operating. Officials found two cigarette makers, one line cigarette maker and packer, hand-packing and sealing equipment, as well as boxes of fake tax stamps, as well as boxes of filter rods, packaging materials, and other raw materials.
They also found undetermined volumes of cigarette brands – Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp.; Mighty and IW (illicit whites or contrabands); finished goods such as Marlboro (Black & Red); Fortune (Red & Green); Jackpot; Mark; Champion; Mighty – Mighty Green; Marvels; Two Moon, Fort, and Union.