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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Hindi pumaldo': PNP foils sale of P2 B worth of smuggled cigarettes

'Hindi pumaldo': PNP foils sale of P2 B worth of smuggled cigarettes

Published Mar 30, 2026 04:12 pm
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez leads the inspection of abandoned container vans in Batangas City which later yielded around P1.1 billion worth of smuggled tobacco products. (photo: PNP)
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez leads the inspection of abandoned container vans in Batangas City which later yielded around P1.1 billion worth of smuggled tobacco products. (photo: PNP)
Cigarette smugglers would have hit a jackpot way better than what a lotto biggest prize could offer.
But the P2 billion market price of smuggled and illegally-manufactured cigarettes suddenly disappeared after the Philippine National Police (PNP) started busting their distribution networks.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said the P2 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized in various intelligence-driven operations from Jan. 1 to March 29 this year.
The seized items include 246,085 packs and 484,064 reams of cigarettes, along with 9,961 master cases and several manufacturing equipment used in illicit production. Aside from the confiscated cigarettes, a total of 1,187 people were also arrested.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recorded the highest value of confiscations, exceeding ₱690 million, followed by Police Regional Office 9 with more than ₱147 million, and PRO 4A (Calabarzon) with over ₱116 million.
‘This strong operational output reflects the organization’s firm and sustained stance against smuggling. These results show that our personnel on the ground are doing their job and doing it well,” Nartatez said.
He also stressed the PNP’s continued resolve to go after those behind large-scale smuggling networks.
Recent data also highlight how certain regions continue to be key areas of concern due to high volumes of illegal cigarette movement, reflecting broader national trends in illicit trade.
He said further investigation is underway to identify and dismantle networks behind these operations, with the PNP coordinating closely with other government agencies.

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PNP smuggled cigarettes Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
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