Several boxes of fake cigarettes were seized after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) conducted raids in two Bacolod City barangays yesterday morning, resulting in one arrest.

Police identified the arrested individual as 44-year-old Adam Mangoda, a resident of Rodriguez Baybay at Purok Mapinalanggaon in Barangay 35 of the said city. However, another suspect, a certain Allan Alikhan of Barangay Singcang-Airport, managed to elude arrest.

CIDG-Bacolod head, Police Senior Inspector Kim Dominic Gamboa, said the operation was conducted after receiving a complaint from the BIR and representatives from Philip Morris Philippines, Inc. reporting fake cigarettes were being sold in the city.

According to authorities, Mangoda’s home in Barangay 35, which was allegedly being used to store the fake cigarettes, was raided first. After initial intelligence suggested the suspect was armed, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit was requested, however, the suspect surrendered to police.

BIR officials inspected six boxes of various cigarette brands and found the BIR stamps on the products to be fake.

Following an interrogation, Mangoda led authorities to a Barangay Singcang-Airport warehouse allegedly owned by Alikhan, where the suspect claimed to be receiving his supply.

A search of the warehouse recovered 32 additional boxes of fake cigarettes and an improvised shotgun.

The estimated value of the seized items has yet to be determined as of press time, as authorities are still conducting an inventory.

Meanwhile, Gamboa said Mangoda is facing charges in violation of the intellectual property code and the tax code; and for illegal possession of firearms.

Mangoda is presently detained at the CIDG-Bacolod headquarters./DGB, WDJ