THE CITY Prosecution Office has approved the filing of cases against six Chinese nationals accused of selling smuggled cigarettes worth P18 million. The agency approved five cases each of trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin, and false description for the cigarettes seized from Yuequn Shi, reportedly the owner of the company involved in distributing the undocumented cigarettes. The five others charged were identified as Chun Qun Shi, Mei Qun Shi, Tian Pei Shi, Lian Zai Shi, and Jian Qun Shi. The cases stem from a raid of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on warehouses in four locations in the city on July 21 following a complaint from a cigarette manufacturer about the prevalence of smuggled cigarettes in the local market. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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