P45-M cigarettes seized, 5 nabbed in 4 police ops – CIDG

Cigarettes worth P40.2 million in 682 master cases were seized in a warehouse in Barangay Batia in Bocaue, Bulacan, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, one of four police operations conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group across the country. Photo by CIDG

MANILA, Philippines—Cigarettes valued at P45 million were seized while five suspects were arrested in four police operations across the country, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) announced in a statement on Monday.

Thirty-eight master cases of cigarettes worth P1.2 million were seized by police in Davao City for lacking graphic health warnings last Tuesday, according to the CIDG.

Authorities arrested suspects “Al Bhadznur” and “Jeson” for violations of Republic Act 10643 or the Graphic Health Warnings Law, and RA 7394 or the Consumer Act.

READ: CIDG seizes P2-M worth of cigarettes without health warning labels

Further, according to the CIDG, the police and the Bureau of Customs last Wednesday confiscated 70 master cases of cigarettes worth P3.9 million that were allegedly smuggled in a warehouse in Barangay San Roque, Zamboanga City.

Also on Wednesday, the CIDG and the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Baggao, Cagayan, seized 1,214 reams of cigarettes valued at P95,000 for lacking graphic health warnings and allegations of non-payment of excise taxes.

The Cagayan operation led to the arrest of a suspect identified as “Alona.”

READ: CIDG’s Bulacan, Valenzuela raids yield seizure of P2.4-B fake cigarettes

Then, last Thursday, both the CIDG and Customs raided a warehouse in Barangay Batia in Bocaue, Bulacan, confiscating 682 master cases of allegedly smuggled cigarettes worth P40.2 million.

Authorities arrested “Marcial” and “Rock,” the latter of whom is a Chinese individual, for alleged violations of the Intellectual Property Code.