Authorities are intensifying their crackdown on tobacco smuggling as prosecutors move forward with multiple cases under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law (RA 12022), signaling a tougher national stance against illicit cigarette operations that officials say are costing the government billions in lost revenue and undermining legitimate industries.

Government records show nine active agricultural economic sabotage cases nationwide, six of which involve large-scale smuggling of tobacco products.

These six cases alone account for at least ₱146.45 million worth of seized illicit cigarettes based on valuations issued by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), with total figures expected to rise once inventory valuation is completed for another major seizure in Bulacan late last year.

The tobacco-related cases have so far led to the detention of 26 respondents accused of violating Section 7 of RA 12022, which covers large-scale economic sabotage offenses involving agricultural commodities.

Authorities note that many apprehensions were conducted in Philippine waters while other operations uncovered stockpiles hidden in warehouses and private properties.

One operation in Basilan waters in July 2025 intercepted smugglers transporting hundreds of master cases of cigarettes valued at over ₱14.5 million.

A separate maritime operation in Palawan two months later yielded smuggled cigarettes worth ₱24.57 million. Additional enforcement operations followed in Negros Occidental and Davao City in October, seizing contraband valued at ₱13.3 million and ₱30.1 million, respectively.

The largest single maritime seizure among the active cases occurred in Zamboanga City in November, where authorities confiscated illicit cigarettes valued at nearly ₱64 million. Another significant operation in Bulacan resulted in the confiscation of mixed cigarette brands from a warehouse, with valuation still pending.

Recent enforcement actions have also included the shutdown of a large illegal cigarette manufacturing facility in Pampanga, where authorities raided what officials described as an industrial-scale operation capable of producing millions of pesos worth of cigarettes daily. Law enforcement agencies also reported rescuing Filipino workers allegedly subjected to inhumane working conditions inside the compound while arresting foreign nationals suspected of running the operation. The discovery prompted officials to warn that additional illegal factories may still be operating across the country.

Senator Win Gatchalian recently called for a Senate investigation into tobacco smuggling networks, citing concerns over the scale of operations and the possible involvement of corrupt insiders who may be facilitating smuggling activities.

“The illicit trade of tobacco products does not only result in lost revenue from unpaid taxes. More importantly, it undermines the rule of law, jeopardizes public health, and enriches criminal networks,” Gatchalian said.

Marikina City 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means, is likewise seeking a House probe into tobacco smuggling, citing alarming figures from recent operations.

Quimbo pointed to the interception of 32 trucks on January 1 carrying allegedly smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately ₱2.6 billion.

“Kung hindi napipigilan ang malakihang smuggling, bumabagsak ang presyo ng sigarilyo (Cigarette prices fall due to unimpeded big-time smuggling). And the stark price gap between legal and smuggled cigarettes waters down the effect of sin taxes and other health reforms we have so far achieved," Quimbo said.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he has ordered an intensified crackdown on strategic transit and storage hubs used for the illegal tobacco trade.

Nartatez said the police crackdown targets organized groups profiting from smuggling, rather than ordinary communities, in line with directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Vowing to go after runners, warehouse operators and masterminds, Nartatez said the PNP should counter every aggressive move by smugglers because the activity involves billions of pesos in lost tax revenue.