The Intellectual Property Unit of the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime (CTOC) Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, in partnership with Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL), on Monday, destroyed 624 cases of counterfeit cigarettes valued at an estimated $JM400 million.
The safe consumption of the cigarettes in the cement kiln was overseen by CTOC.
The cigarettes, which are a source of refuse-derived fuel, offers a safe alternative to fossil fuel in the cement-making process.
Commenting on the activity, Managing Director of CCCL, Mr. Jorge Martinez, said the company is advancing its environmental sustainability efforts while at the same time playing its part as a responsible corporate citizen to rid the society of counterfeit products.
“Through our Future in Action programme to reduce CO2 emissions, we are actively looking for alternative sources of fuel. Refuse-derived fuel such as these cigarettes offer that potential,” he said.
Meanwhile, Head of CTOC’s Intellectual Property Unit, Deputy Superintendent, Victor Barrett, expressed gratitude to CCCL for this key partnership.
“It’s a signal that they are displaying great corporate citizenship. It’s a move that we welcome and could not do without this collaboration and partnership. This event is a success, and we could not have done it without the partnership of our corporate citizen, Cemex,” he said.
“I want to stress that the criminals have formed alliances and as a consequence, we in law enforcement must form partnerships of our own, or else we will be isolated and weak,” Mr. Barrett continued.
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.
“This matter needs to remain the focus of law enforcement and other such agencies to ensure that consumers are protected, and government revenue secured. We will continue to play our part to ensure that this remains at the forefront,” he said.
Mr. Murillo commended Deputy Superintendent Barrett and the Jamaica Customs Agency for their hard work in securing the counterfeit goods.
