Manila: Police apprehended 15 individuals, including three Chinese nationals, and seized PHP91 million worth of alleged smuggled and illicit cigarettes during three days of synchronized operations last week. In a statement Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the operations were conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from Feb. 5 to 7.

According to Philippines News Agency, on Feb. 5, the CIDG Regional Field Unit 9-Special Operating Team seized 56 master cases of alleged smuggled cigarettes worth PHP2.96 million in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu. The same day, separate CIDG operations in Laguna, Camarines Norte, and Pampanga netted an additional PHP980,000 worth of alleged illicit cigarettes and led to the arrest of four suspects.

On Feb. 6, CIDG units in Davao, Agusan, Pampanga, and Palawan seized about PHP7.1 million worth of alleged illegal cigarettes and arrested eight individuals, including one Chinese national. In a separate operation, CIDG operatives raided a warehouse in Barangay Prenza 1, Marilao, Bulacan, seizing 1,286 master cases of assorted alleged illicit cigarettes valued at PHP80 million and arresting two Chinese nationals.

On Feb. 7, CIDG teams in Cagayan de Oro and Davao de Oro seized an additional PHP368,250 worth of alleged illegal cigarettes and arrested one suspect.

The PNP said the seized cigarettes were allegedly non-compliant with government regulations, including the absence of required graphic health warnings, and were believed to have violated laws on customs regulations, trade registration requirements, and documentary stamp compliance. "Hindi ito simpleng bentahan lang ng ilegal na sigarilyo (This is not simply a case of selling illegal cigarettes). This is economic sabotage," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

He commended CIDG units nationwide for acting swiftly and decisively, noting that the synchronized operations showed how effective law enforcement becomes when intelligence, coordination, and urgency are aligned.