In a decisive blow to the illegal tobacco trade, a high-level multi-agency task force led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) inspected a massive haul of smuggled cigarettes, manufacturing equipment, and raw materials valued at ₱391 million on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
The inspection follows a successful seizure operation initiated last week by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP).
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno and DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, alongside BIR Central Luzon Regional Director Saripoden M. Bantog, personally oversaw the inventory of the confiscated goods. The operation marks a significant milestone in the administration’s intensified campaign against economic sabotage.
The inventory of the seized assets includes:
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₱200 Million: Raw materials for cigarette production.
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₱142 Million: Advanced cigarette-making machinery.
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₱48 Million: Finished illicit cigarette products.
The machinery and materials, bearing foreign markings and lacking any valid import permits, are believed to have been smuggled into the country to fuel an underground manufacturing hub.
Secretary Remulla emphasized that this operation is the result of a “whole-of-government approach.” By synchronizing the efforts of the BOC, DILG, BIR, PNP-CIDG, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the task force aims to eliminate unfair trade practices that drain the national treasury and pose significant health risks to the public. “This cooperation is vital in cracking down on practices that undermine our economy and threaten the health of Filipinos,” Secretary Remulla stated during a joint press conference.
Commissioner Nepomuceno added that the operation directly follows the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to secure national borders and ensure sound tax collection to fund the government’s development programs.
Commissioner Nepomuceno issued a stern warning to local businesses regarding the sourcing of their inventory, citing the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
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No Bail: Under the new law, those involved in large-scale economic sabotage face non-bailable offenses.
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Mandatory Custody: Guilty parties will remain in custody for the duration of their court proceedings.
A total of 69 individuals, including six Chinese nationals, were apprehended during the raid. They are currently in the custody of the PNP-CIDG pending further investigation.
The suspects face multiple charges for violating:
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Section 263 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC)
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Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act)
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NTA Memorandum Circular No. 02, s. 2020
The Bureau of Customs remains committed to strengthening border protection and collaborating with law enforcement partners to ensure a fair and safe marketplace for all Filipinos.
