Fifteen trailer trucks containing around P960-million worth of allegedly smuggled and illegal cigarettes were seized in two province in Central Luzon during separate law enforcement operations on 7 September 2026.

According to the police, the operation developed from the earlier interception of an Isuzu GIGA Wing Van along MacArthur Highway, Barangay Cacutud, Mabalacat City, Pampanga, at about 12:30 AM on the same day. The vehicle was found loaded with 759 master cases of suspected smuggled/ illicit cigarettes.

Information gathered during the subsequent investigation indicated that the shipment may have originated from a private seaport in Mariveles, Bataan, prompting intelligence operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group–Regional Intelligence Division 3 (RSOG-RID3) to proceed to the area and conduct surveillance.

During the surveillance, several trailer trucks carrying 40-foot container vans were monitored in the area. At about 8:30 PM, the trucks were observed leaving one after another, prompting operating units to position along identified routes in Bataan and Pampanga.

The follow-up operation resulted in the interception of seven trailer trucks in Abucay, two in Limay, and one in Orion, all in Bataan, and five in Lubao, Pampanga. The trucks were subsequently found carrying substantial quantities of suspected smuggled/illicit cigarette products.

Based on initial estimates, the cigarette products loaded in the fifteen trucks have an aggregate value of approximately P960 million, subject to final inventory and verification by the appropriate authorities.

The operation was led by RSOG-RID3, with personnel from RDEU3, RMFB3, Bataan PIU, Bataan PMFC, Abucay MPS, Limay MPS, Orion MPS, Bataan PPO, Lubao MPS, Pampanga PPO, and CIDG RFU 3.