National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Ralph Calinisan commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for seizing an estimated P2.6 billion worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes during separate law enforcement operations in Batangas and Malabon on New Year’s Eve.

Calinisan praised the vigilance and operational effectiveness of the PNP, saying the large-scale confiscation underscores the importance of sustained intelligence-driven operations and strong inter-agency coordination in combating smuggling and other forms of organized crime.

The PNP has launched an investigation to determine whether there is a link between the P1.1 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes discovered during an anti-carnapping operation in Batangas City and the P1.5 billion worth of unregistered imported cigarettes seized in Malabon City.

The Batangas seizure followed the tracking of a stolen red Hyundai Accent reported missing in Las Piñas City.

Operatives from the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) conducted a site inspection in Sitio Singko, Balete, Batangas City, where they found several trucks and container vans later confirmed to be loaded with smuggled cigarettes.

In Malabon City, HPG operatives arrested four individuals and confiscated around P1.5 billion worth of unregistered imported cigarettes.

The operation stemmed from a police pursuit after two motorcycle riders without helmets attempted to evade authorities. The suspects were cornered inside a logistics facility along M.H. Del Pilar Avenue, where 18 containers of undocumented cigarettes were discovered.