Syndicates undeterred despite focused cigarette smuggling campaign

On Oct 29, 2026

A CUSTOMS officer checking one of the four containers found at a port in Zambales loaded with more than ₱175 million worth of smuggled cigarettes (photo: BOC-PIAD).

CRIMINAL syndicates appear undeterred by the government’s ongoing campaign focused on cigarette smuggling after more than ₱175 million worth of cigarettes were seized by a joint government team in Zambales province.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs said that last October 20, operatives from the Customs Intelligence Investigation Service (CIIS) and the Customs Police (ESS) in the ports of Limay and Subic, with the support from the Philippine Coastguard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Army (PA), swooped down on BNB Pier in Sitio Luan, Barangay Lipay, Palauig, Zambales.

Found at the site are 1,600 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth more than ₱175 million loaded in 4 container vans.

In Negros Occidental, the BOC also reported on October 23 that 8,875 reams worth ₱8.5 million of smuggled cigarettes were also intercepted by Port of Iloilo officials under District Collector Noli Santua, with the support from the Philippine Army and the PNP.

A suspect was arrested but the identity was withheld by the BOC.