P48.9M worth of untaxed cigarettes intercepted in Mabalacat — Following leads, an additional P960M worth seized in Central Luzon

📌 Around 12:30 AM on Monday, September 7, police intercepted a wing van truck loaded with cigarettes lacking tax stamps along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Cacutud, Mabalacat City, seizing approximately 48.9 million pesos worth of cigarettes and arresting 4 individuals.
Acting on this lead, authorities seized an additional 15 trailer trucks loaded with about 960 million pesos worth of cigarettes in Bataan and Pampanga on the same day, bringing the total number of arrested suspects to 14.

■ Case Background
· The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) Intelligence Division, Mabalacat Police, and CIDG jointly intercepted an Isuzu GIGA wing van.
· Inside the truck, 759 master cases of 'MODERN' brand cigarettes (329 packs of red, 430 packs of blue) were found without Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps. Estimated market value: approx. 48.95 million pesos.
· The wing van and 3 mobile phones were also confiscated, and 4 suspects were arrested.

■ Additional Seizures
· Interrogation of the arrested suspects revealed that the cigarettes originated from a private port in Mariveles, Bataan.
· Intelligence teams staked out the port and intercepted trailer trucks loaded with 40-foot containers as they lined up to exit.
· In 15 trailer trucks—7 in Abucay, Bataan; 2 in Limay, Bataan; 1 in Orion, Bataan; and 5 in Lubao, Pampanga—authorities seized approximately 960 million pesos worth of cigarettes (subject to final tally).
· Including the wing van, a total of 14 people were arrested (mostly drivers). Police are currently tracking down the actual owners and distribution network.

■ Notice for Expats and Travelers
· The cigarettes seized in this operation are smuggled, illegal goods lacking BIR tax stamps. Avoid buying extremely cheap cigarettes that lack BIR stamps on the pack or have an unclear origin.
· Large-scale operations of this kind are ongoing along major roads in Pampanga, including Mabalacat and Lubao. If you take on driving jobs for cargo trucks or vans, make sure to verify the contents and documentation of your load. Most of those arrested this time were drivers.

■ Sources
SunStar Pampanga (9/8), Punto! Central Luzon (9/8-9), SunStar (9/10, PNA report), Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer (headlines verified)

■ Photos
Law enforcement officers inspecting boxes of cigarettes piled inside a container (Punto!), Central Luzon Police Regional Director explaining during a Camp Crame briefing (SunStar)