The Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Branch  (CTOC) in partnership with Caribbean Cement Company Limited, destroyed 624 cases of counterfeit cigarettes valued at an estimated 400 million dollars earlier this week.

Head of CTOC’s Intellectual Property Unit, Deputy Superintendent Victor Barrett, welcomed the partnership with Carib Cement, stressing that criminals have formed alliances and as a consequence, law enforcement personnel must form partnerships or be isolated and weak.

For his part, Managing Director of Carreras Limited Franklin Murillo, noted that the smuggling and sale of counterfeit cigarettes has a deleterious effect on the business environment, government revenue, consumers and the youth.

He said this matter needs to remain the focus of law enforcement and other such agencies to ensure that consumers are protected, and government revenue secured.