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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Talo-talo muna!' PNP nabs 6 PCG men, civilian cohort over P3M 'smuggled' cigarettes in Misamis Oriental

'Talo-talo muna!' PNP nabs 6 PCG men, civilian cohort over P3M 'smuggled' cigarettes in Misamis Oriental

Published Apr 17, 2026 02:25 pm
(Photo: Philippine National Police)
(Photo: Philippine National Police)
Six Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel and a civilian cohort were collared by their brothers-in-uniform from the Philippine National Police (PNP) after they allegedly yielded P3,075,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes during an anti-smuggling operation in Naawan, Misamis Oriental on Friday, April 17.
Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., PNP chief, said police investigators were pursuing a possible wider network behind cigarette smuggling in Northern Mindanao after the arrest of the PCG personnel, who were assigned to various coast guard stations in the area, as well as a civilian driver.
Based on a police report, two of the arrested PCG personnel were assigned to the Southwestern Northern Mindanao unit, while others were from sub-stations in Laguindingan, Lugait, Libertad, and El Salvador City.
“These people are assigned [to] different sub-stations so we are looking into a network of connivance for both smuggling and distribution. We will dig deeper and we will make sure that those involved will be held accountable,” said Nartatez.
The suspects were arrested at around 1:30 a.m. while unloading boxes of alleged smuggled cigarettes from a fishing vessel and transferring them into a Mitsubishi L300 van at the Coast Guard Sub-Station in Purok 5, Poblacion, Naawan.
Police seized 205 master cases of Cannon Menthol 100 cigarettes from the suspects.
Nartatez said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports about an ongoing smuggling activity involving some Coast Guard personnel in Mindanao.
Operatives from the PNP Maritime Unit in Misamis Oriental led the raid and coordinated with the Naawan Municipal Police Station, the Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the 2nd Misamis Oriental Provincial Mobile Force Company.
“It is highly unfair that while our men and personnel of other government agencies that include PCG personnel themselves are risking their limb and life against smugglers, these people were actually in cahoots with them,” Nartatez said.
The discovery of the contraband inside a Coast Guard facility further alarmed police leadership.
“And what further drew the anger of PGEN Nartatez was when he found out that the smuggled cigarettes were discovered right inside the PCG Sub-Station,” Nartatez noted.
The PNP chief directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to help build a strong case that would ensure conviction against the suspects.
“In coordination with the PCG leadership, we will make sure that these six Coast Guard men will not only be dismissed from the service but will also spend years in jail,” Nartatez noted.
All seized items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs while the suspects remained under the custody of the PNP Maritime Unit in Misamis Oriental pending the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

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