DAVAO REGION, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized suspected smuggled and untaxed tobacco products worth approximately ₱2.67 million in separate operations in Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur on October 1, 2026, as authorities intensified their campaign against cigarette smuggling and agricultural economic sabotage.
The operations, conducted by the CIDG Regional Field Unit 11 and its provincial field units in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, formed part of a broader nationwide crackdown targeting illicit tobacco products, tax evasion, and the illegal distribution of cigarettes.
According to the CIDG report submitted to its director, PMGEN Robert AA Morico II, the two operations in the Davao Region resulted in the recovery and confiscation of tobacco products valued at a combined ₱2,672,000.
Abandoned Cigarettes Recovered in Davao Oriental
At approximately 1:50 a.m. on October 1, personnel from the CIDG Davao Oriental Provincial Field Unit, together with territorial police units, conducted a law enforcement operation in Barangay Tagabebe, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental.
The operation led to the recovery of 21 master cases and 50 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of ₱1.43 million.
Authorities described the cigarettes as abandoned. The available report did not identify a suspect or provide details about who owned or transported the recovered tobacco products.
The circumstances surrounding the cigarettes’ abandonment, including their origin and intended destination, were not specified in the report.
Untaxed Tobacco Products Seized in Davao del Sur
Later that morning, at approximately 10:05 a.m., the CIDG Davao del Sur Provincial Field Unit, in coordination with the Matanao Municipal Police Station and a representative of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 11, implemented two BIR Mission Orders at two stores in Barangay Bangkal, Matanao, Davao del Sur.
The inspections resulted in the confiscation of 123 reams and 177 packs of tobacco products valued at approximately ₱1.242 million.
According to the CIDG, the seized products lacked BIR tax stamps and the required graphic health warnings.
The absence of tax stamps raises concerns about compliance with tobacco taxation requirements, while missing graphic health warnings indicate potential violations of applicable regulations governing cigarette packaging and consumer information.
The available report did not identify the store owners or state whether charges had already been filed in connection with the confiscated products.
Davao Region Operations Part of Wider Crackdown
The operations in Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur were among five separate interventions conducted by CIDG units in the Davao Region and Zamboanga Peninsula at the beginning of October.
Across all five operations, authorities confiscated suspected illegal cigarettes with a combined estimated value of ₱117,373,015.37, with the largest seizure recorded at an underground storage facility in Zamboanga City.
The CIDG said the intensified enforcement campaign seeks to disrupt the supply chains of illicit tobacco products, from suspected entry points and storage facilities to distributors and retail outlets.
Illegal cigarette trading can undermine government revenue through tax evasion, distort competition for legitimate businesses, and weaken regulatory controls over tobacco products. Authorities also characterize the trade as a threat to agricultural economic interests.
CIDG leadership commended the personnel involved in the operations, including the regional and provincial units responsible for the Davao Region enforcement activities.
The agency reiterated its commitment to enforcing the law against those involved in cigarette smuggling and the distribution of untaxed or otherwise unlawful tobacco products.
The CIDG also warned merchants, distributors, and logistics operators against engaging in illegal tobacco trading, urging them to comply with applicable laws and regulations or face potential legal consequences.
Authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the investigation into the recovered cigarettes in Davao Oriental or the stores inspected in Davao del Sur.