Authorities seized more than P15 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and arrested four people in a series of anti-smuggling operations across MIMAROPA, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on May 15.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the operations were carried out separately in Palawan, Zamboanga City and Maguindanao del Norte as law enforcement agencies intensified their campaign against illicit trade.
In Taytay, Palawan, personnel of the PNP Maritime Group’s 2nd Special Operations Unit, local police and partner agencies implemented a search warrant that led to the confiscation of 5,321 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at about P4.52 million. One Filipino male was arrested.
In Zamboanga City, a joint operation involving Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) field units, local police and the Bureau of Customs resulted in the arrest of another Filipino male after authorities recovered 26 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth around P3.84 million. A delivery vehicle allegedly used to transport the items was also seized.
Police manning a checkpoint in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte also intercepted a truck loaded with around 4,900 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at P5.73 million. Two Filipino individuals were arrested, while the truck was impounded.
In a separate operation also in Taytay, Palawan, authorities took custody of 1,897 reams of cigarettes worth about P1.66 million after the items were voluntarily surrendered by an unidentified individual.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the operations reflected stronger coordination among police units, the Bureau of Customs, local authorities and other partner agencies in going after smuggling networks.
“Ipinapakita ng mga operasyong ito ang matatag na pagtutulungan ng ating mga kapulisan at partner agencies,” Nartatez said. “Hindi po tayo magpapabaya sa kampanya laban sa smuggling dahil malinaw ang ating layunin na protektahan ang ekonomiya at kapakanan ng publiko.”
Nartatez said the intensified campaign is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen enforcement against economic sabotage and related crimes under the PNP’s focused law enforcement agenda.
The PNP said the seized items, vehicles and arrested suspects are now under proper custody for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.