The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will intensify intelligence operations nationwide against illegal cigarette manufacturing following a major crackdown in Negros Island that uncovered nearly P800 million worth of illicit production equipment and supplies.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police units have been directed to strengthen surveillance and coordinate closely with local government units to locate hidden factories and identify the syndicates behind them.
The move aligns with the administration’s broader push under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through the Department of the Interior and Local Government, to dismantle smuggling networks and protect government revenues.
Authorities said the recent operations in Negros Occidental exposed the scale and sophistication of illegal cigarette production, prompting a renewed focus on intelligence-led enforcement.
“This is about dismantling the very core of these illegal operations,” Nartatez said. “By locating hidden manufacturing hubs and identifying the groups behind them, we are showing that the full force of the law will be used to protect the economy and the public.”
He said field units have also been ordered to expand intelligence gathering and trace other possible production sites nationwide, as well as the networks behind them.
The intensified campaign follows a series of operations by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which dismantled a large-scale illegal cigarette manufacturing and distribution network in Negros Occidental.
Authorities said the operations, conducted in Bago City on April 21 and in areas between Barangays Alijis and Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City on April 22, led to the seizure of equipment, raw materials, and packaging supplies worth about P799.15 million.
Ten Chinese nationals were arrested during the raids. Investigators also said Filipino workers were allegedly recruited with low daily wages, were not fully compensated, and were restricted from leaving the facilities, raising concerns of possible labor exploitation.
Police said the findings highlight the increasing complexity of illegal cigarette operations, often concealed in remote or industrial areas and supported by organized networks.
Nartatez underscored the importance of public cooperation in identifying suspicious activities.
“Malaki ang maitutulong ng ating mga kababayan sa pagtukoy ng mga pagawaan na ito, kaya patuloy naming hinihikayat ang pagbibigay ng impormasyon,” he said.
He assured the public that the PNP will sustain operations against cigarette smuggling, stressing that community vigilance remains key to disrupting illegal networks.