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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider P600-M smuggled cigarettes seized in Cebu City

P600-M smuggled cigarettes seized in Cebu City

Published Jun 24, 2026 10:12 pm
AUTHORITIES inspect a container van loaded with smuggled cigarettes in Cebu City. (NBI 7)
AUTHORITIES inspect a container van loaded with smuggled cigarettes in Cebu City. (NBI 7)
CEBU CITY – Smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P600 million were seized here on Wednesday, June 24.
The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized 11 40-foot container vans containing smuggled cigarettes while two truck drivers were arrested.
Six container vans were intercepted in Barangay Bacayan, three were seized in a private wharf, while two others were confiscated outside the PCG office on Arellano Boulevard.
The identities of the two drivers were withheld pending follow-up investigation.
Arnel Pura, agent-in-charge of NBI-Cebu, said the series of confiscations stemmed from intelligence reports about the presence of illegally imported cigarettes.
Authorities are also looking into three other unclaimed 40-foot containers reportedly still inside a shipping facility.
“We are coordinating with the management so we can recover or seize the three others,” Pura said.
PCG Cebu Station Commander Capt. Jerome Lozada said the eight containers contained at least 900 master cases of cigarettes.
Authorities believed that the shipments were owned by a single operator.
An organized smuggling syndicate could be behind the shipment of the contraband, Pura said.
Pura said backtracking investigation is underway to determine how the contraband entered the country and identify those responsible behind the shipment.

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Smuggled cigarettes Cebu City
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