P1-M worth of fake cigarettes seized from Chinese national

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – More than P1 million worth of fake cigarettes were recovered Thursday afternoon in a raid on an apartment at Caprichu 1, Barangay 5 here.

The Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 led the operation which resulted in the seizure of 102 boxes of assorted cigarette brands that were believed to be fakes.

The subject of the operation was Chinese national Li Qing Zong.

Regional Trial Court Judge Esperanza Isabel Poco-Deslate authorized the search.

Edwardo Banas, RID Assistant Team Leader, said it took two months of surveillance and test-buys on the suspect before the operation was conducted.

The cigarettes were confirmed to be fake following tests by the raiding team.

Li is detained at the Roxas City PNP.