Authorities intercepted 54 container vans loaded with suspected smuggled cigarettes during a joint anti-smuggling operation at a private port in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
The operation was conducted by personnel of the 1st Agusan del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Gotong Private Port after authorities received intelligence information about a suspicious shipment.
Police said the BOC implemented a Letter of Authority that led to the inspection of the shipment and the discovery of 54 forty-foot container vans allegedly carrying smuggled cigarettes.
Each container was estimated to contain around 1,030 master cases of cigarettes, although authorities said inventory and documentation were still ongoing to determine the total value of the confiscated goods.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the volume of the shipment indicated the possible involvement of a large-scale and well-funded criminal syndicate operating through regional smuggling routes.
“The sheer volume of this seizure strongly suggests the involvement of a sophisticated transnational network,” Nartatez said.
He added that intelligence units are now tracing the shipment’s origin and intended recipients as part of efforts to dismantle the entire smuggling operation.
The PNP chief also ordered tighter monitoring of private ports and secondary wharves, warning that such facilities should not become entry points for illegal goods.
He directed regional and provincial police units to strengthen coordination with the BOC and the Philippine Coast Guard to intensify surveillance and intelligence operations in ports nationwide.
Authorities are currently conducting follow-up investigations to identify those responsible for the shipment and determine possible violations of customs and tax laws.
The PNP said intelligence tracking operations are also underway to map out the transport chain and distribution network linked to the seized contraband.