Digos City, Philippines – Authorities seized an estimated ₱19.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested six individuals during a buy-bust operation conducted in Digos City on May 4, 2025.
The joint operation was led by personnel of the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) through the Digos City Police Station, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Davao del Sur Provincial Field Unit (DSPFU), under CIDG’s flagship Project Plan Mega Shopper.
The sting was carried out around 4:30 PM and targeted violators of Republic Act 10643 or the Graphic Health Warnings Law. The suspects were apprehended while attempting to sell cigarettes without the mandatory graphic health warning labels to a police poseur buyer.
Arrested during the operation were six individuals identified only by their aliases: “Anda,” “Sam,” “Amir,” “Nad,” “Mar,” and “Jake.”
Seized during the operation were:
- One (1) master case of President (red) cigarettes without graphic health warnings used in the actual sale
- One (1) genuine ₱1,000 bill (serial number N1279855) as marked money
- Fourteen (14) pieces of ₱1,000 boodle money
In addition, authorities confiscated:
- 262 master cases of President (red) cigarettes
- 216 master cases of Aris (white and black) cigarettes
- One (1) white Isuzu Travis L3 van
- One (1) red container van
All seized cigarette products lacked the required graphic health warning labels, in violation of national tobacco control laws.
The total haul of 478 master cases is estimated to have a market value of ₱19,120,000.
Authorities said charges are now being prepared against the suspects, who are currently under police custody pending further investigation.