Chinese arrested as P160-million smuggled cigarettes, illegal vapes seized in Malabon
MANILA — A Chinese national was arrested after authorities seized around P160 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and illegal vape products from a rented house inside an exclusive village in Malabon City on Thursday.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Calabarzon said the house in Barangay Potrero was being used as a warehouse for the contraband instead of a residential property.
Authorities recovered some 1,000 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes, following a month-long surveillance operation against the foreign national.
A poseur buyer eventually purchased 120 master cases of cigarettes from the suspect for P2 million, leading to the buy-bust operation.
“Pinahirapan pa kami. Nag-umpisa ito from transaction dapat sa Cavite, tapos hinila kami papuntang Taguig, sa Paranaque, and then hanggang sa napunta kami dito sa Malabon,” said CIDG-Calabarzon regional chief PCol. Ganaban Ali.
Aside from the cigarettes, authorities also discovered 635 boxes of vape products inside the house.
The seized cigarettes were estimated to be worth P78 million, while the vape products were valued at P82 million.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confirmed that the seized products were illegal and violated agency regulations.
Police suspect that the operation could be part of a larger smuggling network operating in Cavite and other parts of the Calabarzon region.
“Maaari siyang may mga kasamahan dito at matagal na siya dito. Iimbestigahan pa namin,” Malabon City police chief PCol. Kenneth Mission said.
Meanwhile, Barangay Potrero Captain Sheryl Nolasco admitted they were unaware of the activities inside the rented property, noting that the exclusive village had its own security personnel.
“Hindi rin ho kasi kami familiar na may mga nagpapa-rent na po ng mga malalaking bahay dito,” she said.
“Although suspicious na daw ‘yong mga guard dahil may times daw na may truck na papasok. Maliit na maliit lang ‘yong gate pero pinipilit pa din na ipasok. Maliit lang kaso ‘yong gate ng bahay. Hindi nila nire-report, ngayon lang nila sinabi,” she added.
The suspect is expected to face charges for alleged violations of intellectual property rights, economic sabotage, and other administrative offenses under the DTI.