P140-M TOBACCO PRODUCTS SEIZED IN PAMPANGA WAREHOUSE RAID

BY KEVIN GALANG

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — An estimated P140 million worth of allegedly violative heated tobacco products were seized by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 3 (CIDG RFU3) during the implementation of a search warrant at a warehouse in Bacolor, Pampanga.

According to CIDG RFU3 chief Col. Grant Gollod, the operation, conducted under Oplan Megashopper, took place at Arborland Holdings Inc. Warehouse G in Bgy. Calibutbut, Bacolor. 

Members of the CIDG RFU3’s Regional Special Operations Team, with support from the CIDG Pampanga and Tarlac Provincial Field Units, the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Regional Office 3, and the Bacolor Municipal Police Station, launched the operation.

Authorities implemented a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 43 in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Among those named in the search warrant were the president of 20S Inc., the company’s director, and corporate treasurer who are all Chinese nationals, as well as a Filipino personnel. The four are all at-large.

Confiscated were tens of thousands of reams and hundreds of boxes of heated tobacco products under various “Coo” brand variants, including Lush, Purple, Teal, Green, Yellow, Red, Iced Tea, Brown, Marigold and Bright. 

Probers said many of the products bore expired Bureau of Internal Revenue tax stamps, outdated graphic health warnings, lacked the required ICC/PS certification marks, or were contained in unlabeled packaging.

Also recovered from the warehouse were several withdrawal slips issued under 20S Inc., a lease agreement between Arborland Holdings Inc. and 20S Inc., and a BIR letter of disposal dated March 2, 2026.

According to CIDG, the seized products have an estimated market value of approximately P140 million.

The CIDG said the operation stemmed from a July 2 joint inspection conducted by the BIR and CIDG RFU3 under a BIR Mission Order, during which authorities initially discovered the questioned heated tobacco products and gathered evidence of possible violations involving expired tax stamps, outdated health warnings, missing certification marks, and unlabeled master cases.

Police said the implementation of the search warrant was conducted peacefully in the presence of barangay officials, a media representative, and a company representative. 

Officers also used body-worn cameras and an alternative recording device throughout the operation.

CIDG RFU3 is preparing criminal complaints for alleged violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines before the Office of the City Prosecutor in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga against the suspects. 

Authorities are also preparing charges under Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila.