Heavy equipment crushes machine used in cigarette manufacturing. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila on Monday supervised the destruction of millions of pesos-worth cigarette manufacturing materials and printing equipment believed used in counterfeiting branded tobacco products.
Present during the condemnation of the items at the Green Leaf 88 waste disposal facility in Porac, Pampanga were, aside from BOC-Manila personnel, representatives from the Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris International and members of the media.
BOC-Manila said the machines and materials were seized last June in a warehouse located along Maysan Road corner A. Cantillon St., Valenzuela City following a forfeiture proceeding issued by a Manila court.
The warehouse owner identified as one Michel Jamora failed to show proof of payment of tax and duties of the imported machines and materials, prompting the BOC-Manila to seize them.
Found in the warehouse were machines for die–cutting, paper-cutting and printing, transformers, 10 boxes of vacuum packaging, black packaging paper, 120 mother cases of Crown C, 216 cases of Jinan Crown and 148 cases of Suzhuo Kingsworld.
Stockpiles of counterfeit labels of branded tobacco products such as Fortune, Hope Mark, More, Jackpot, Two Moon, Marvel, Mighty, Astro, and The Port were also discovered in the warehouse.
Also seized were finished cigarettes ream labels for Two Moon, Marvel, Mighty, Fortune, Astro and The Port.
The seizure was covered by Letter of Authority No. 06-25-145-2019 issued by BOC directing its personnel to conduct an inspection of the warehouse. The raid was properly coordinated with the Valenzuela City government, BOC-Manila said.
BOC-Enforcement and Security Service director Filemon Ruiz sent samples of the confiscated items to Philip Morris International for confirmation but the tobacco firm said the warehouse did not have the authority to print such materials in the country.
This led to the condemnation of the contraband materials. With PR/BOC-Manila
