Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), led by Secretary Jonvic C. Remulla,  the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by Police General Melencio Nartatez Jr., and the Bureau of Customs led by Ariel Nepomuceno, conduct an inspection operation against an alleged illegal cigarette manufacturing facility at Samyoung Global Enterprises in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, Pampanga, on February 5, 2026.
The operation follows reports of large-scale production and distribution of untaxed cigarettes as part of the government’s intensified efforts to curb smuggling, tax evasion, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

ILLEGAL CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177181435563720260205-illegal-cigarette-production-samyoung-MT26_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Authorities conduct an inspection operation against an alleged illegal cigarette manufacturing facility at Samyoung Global Enterprises in Barangay Panipuan, Mexico, Pampanga, on February 5, 2026. The operation follows reports of large-scale production and distribution of untaxed cigarettes as part of the government’s intensified efforts to curb smuggling, tax evasion, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered chiefs of police nationwide to work closely with local government and barangay officials in a stronger information drive against the sale of smuggled and illegally manufactured cigarettes.</p><p>In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the campaign aims to make small retailers, particularly sari-sari stores, understand the legal consequences of selling illicit tobacco products.</p><p>“We have to make sari-sari store owners fully understand that they are becoming enablers of smuggling and illegal manufacture of the cigarettes the moment they agree to sell them to their customers, and there are legal consequences in doing that,” Nartatez said.</p><p>Under the information drive, police will also identify brands of smuggled and illegally manufactured cigarettes circulating in communities.</p><p>Interior Secretary and Local Government Jonvic Remulla earlier warned that authorities would begin conducting raids in public markets and small-time retail outlets as part of the government’s intensified crackdown.</p><p>Retailers were given one week to dispose of their illegal cigarette stocks and stop distribution, with authorities making clear that small-time distributors and sellers will also be held liable, not just manufacturers.</p><p>Those involved in the sale and distribution of smuggled agricultural products may face stiff penalties under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.</p><p>&quot;Tayo ay umaapela sa publiko, lalong-lalo na ang mga may-ari ng maliliit na tindahan, na makipagtulungan sa mga awtoridad sa kampanyang ito upang masawata ang mga smuggled na sigarilyo na ito,’’ Nartatez appealed to the public. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>P138-M HAUL IN CEBU</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The PNP chief also commended the Police Regional Office 7 for simultaneous operations conducted in Cebu City on February 19, which led to the confiscation of over 100,000 packs of illegal cigarettes worth more than P138 million.</p><p>The seized items were documented and placed under the temporary custody of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).</p><p>Authorities said monitoring and enforcement efforts will continue to ensure strict compliance with the law.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL ORDERED</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177181725508020260205-illegal-cigarette-production-samyoung-MT15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The operation follows reports of large-scale production and distribution of untaxed cigarettes as part of the government’s intensified efforts to curb smuggling, tax evasion, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>Meanwhile, the PNP is coordinating with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other government agencies for the immediate disposal of billions of pesos worth of confiscated smuggled and illegally manufactured cigarettes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/20/p200-million-worth-of-illicit-cigarettes-seized-in-cavite-raid-0724">P200-million worth of illicit cigarettes seized in Cavite raid</a></div><p>Nartatez said the prompt destruction of seized goods is necessary to preserve the integrity of anti-smuggling operations and prevent speculation.</p><p>“These confiscated cigarettes must be disposed of properly in the soonest possible time to prevent any speculation and eventually maintain the integrity of the aggressive police operations against this illegal product,” he said.</p><p>He directed commanders of operating units to immediately turn over confiscated items to the BOC, BIR, or other appropriate agencies, and to ensure proper documentation and monitoring of all seized products.</p><p>As part of the nationwide crackdown, the PNP urged citizens to serve as the “eyes and ears” of authorities.</p><p>Reports may be made through the government’s 911 hotline, with Nartatez assuring the public that complainants’ identities will remain confidential.</p><p>On February 19, a joint inter-agency operation in Barangay Sahud-Ulan, Tanza, Cavite resulted in the seizure of P200 million worth of illegally manufactured cigarettes.</p><p>Authorities discovered that a warehouse declared as a storage facility for canned goods was being used to manufacture, store, and distribute counterfeit tobacco products.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vQ3vt85wig?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eysKmHyNpxI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Retailers were given one week to dispose of their illegal cigarette stocks and stop distribution, with authorities making clear that small-time distributors and sellers will also be held liable, not just manufacturers.</p>

Retailers were given one week to dispose of their illegal cigarette stocks and stop distribution, with authorities making clear that small-time distributors and sellers will also be held liable, not just manufacturers.

PNP orders info drive vs smuggled cigarettes, to focus on sari-sari stores

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PNP orders info drive vs smuggled cigarettes, to focus on sari-sari stores

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 23, 2026 11:29 AM PHT

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PNP

smuggled cigarettes

illicit cigarettes

info drive

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sari-sari stores

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