Ched Rick Gatchalian

The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) seized more than P120 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from a warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga on Sunday.

Article (news)

Over P120 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes seized in Pampanga

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) seized more than P120 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from a warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga on Sunday.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2005506916315996514&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-29T07%3A33%3A04.221066%3A8801e2e5-d5ce-456f-a5ab-a62063460014%26action%3Dcorrect&amp;sessionId=d554863f3202baa500ad09c8c4e433e08e6089b3&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2005506916315996514"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>According to the PNP HPG, the operation stemmed from a routine traffic stop after officers flagged down a truck for multiple traffic violations.</p><p>The driver failed to present a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and cargo manifest, prompting authorities to inspect the vehicle.</p><p>PNP HPG Director Police Brigadier General Hansel Marantan said the inspection led to the discovery of suspected illicit cigarettes concealed inside the closed truck.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/3-arrested-for-bribery-bid-over-p143-m-smuggled-cigarettes-1643">3 arrested for bribery bid over P143M smuggled cigarettes</a></div><p>“Walang pertinent papers, walang CR, impoundable offense ‘yung violation. Voluntarily, the driver opened the closed truck at it was concealed ng paleta. So there is malice there already para hindi makita ang boxes doon,” Marantan said.</p><p>The driver later pointed authorities to a warehouse where the contraband was reportedly loaded.</p><p>Marantan noted that the method used in transporting the cigarettes appeared highly organized, similar to tactics used in illegal drug distribution.</p><p>“Matindi rin ‘yung cut-out [system] nila, parang nagdi-distribute din ng droga. ‘Yung nakuha naming driver, reading the contents of the cellphone hanggang doon lang sa 7/11 lang alam niya. They have the mastered the craft of delivery of smuggled cigarettes that’s why we asked the intervention of the IG (Intelligence Group) para tumulong sa build-up pa,” he added.</p><p>Authorities secured and inventoried a total of 1,468 master cases of cigarettes in coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Office III, and the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).</p><p>Police are still investigating the origin of the confiscated cigarettes, the ownership of the warehouse, and possible links to other illegal smuggling operations.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/26/marcos-jr-signs-new-law-classifying-smuggling-as-economic-sabotage-1700">Marcos Jr. signs new law classifying agri smuggling as economic sabotage</a></div><p>The driver is facing complaints for violation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, along with other applicable charges, before the Office of the Prosecutor in Pampanga.</p>

<p>The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP HPG) seized more than P120 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from a warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga on Sunday.</p>