Manila, March 30 -- Police seized PHP20 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes and arrested two individuals during a joint operation with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Mandaue City last week.

In a belated news release Sunday, Police Regional Office-Central Visayas chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said the operation on March 26 was launched after the BIR requested police assistance.

The operation targeted locations in Espina Compound, Sitio Sta. Cruz and A.S. Fortuna Extension corner A. Del Rosario Street, all in Barangay Guizo.

Seized during the operation were 334 master cases and 167,765 packs of cigarettes, along with an additional five boxes containing 2,500 packs, collectively valued at approximately PHP20,431,800.00, w...