Police arrested an individual and confiscated 45 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at ₱14,298,450 during an anti-smuggling operation in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, on November 7, 2026.
The operation was conducted in Barangay Sicayab Bucana through the coordinated efforts of the Dapitan City Police Station (CPS), Provincial Intelligence Unit, and 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Zamboanga del Norte Police Provincial Office, with support from the 901st Maneuver Company of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9.
Authorities recovered 45 master cases of cigarettes believed to have been illegally transported or brought into the area. The estimated value of the confiscated products reached ₱14,298,450, making the operation a significant seizure in the police campaign against cigarette smuggling in the province.
The arrested individual and all confiscated items were placed under the custody of the Dapitan City Police Station for documentation, investigation, and appropriate legal proceedings.
The PNP emphasized the importance of sustained police vigilance and inter-unit coordination in preventing the transportation and distribution of smuggled products through local roads and other transportation routes.
The operation forms part of the PNP Focused Agenda, particularly Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO), which promotes coordinated and intelligence-driven law enforcement initiatives.
The PNP reiterated its commitment to working with concerned government agencies to combat smuggling, protect legitimate businesses from unfair competition, and uphold the rule of law.