Police in Dagupan City arrested two men and seized more than suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P1 million in an operation highlighting authorities’ stepped-up crackdown on illegal goods being sold at cut-rate prices.

The Dagupan City Police Office (DCPO) said the suspects were caught during an operation in Sitio Bliss, Barangay Bonuan, and were supplying smuggled cigarettes allegedly to several retail stores in the city. Police said the illegal cigarettes were selling for nearly half the price of branded products, making them attractive to buyers.

“Kinakagat ng mga store owner dahil sa murang halaga. Sabi ko nga, ang branded na sigarilyo naglalaro sa P180 to P200 ang isang kaha, samantalang ’yung nakuha natin P80 to P90 lang ang isang kaha,” Police Captain Rommel Dulay, commander of DCPO Station 6, said.

Authorities estimated the value of the cigarettes confiscated at more than 1 million pesos. The suspects remain in police custody while authorities said efforts are ongoing to obtain their statements.

The Dagupan operation was part of a broader series of law enforcement actions across Luzon targeting illegal and unregulated products.

In Pulilan, Bulacan, police seized suspected counterfeit and unregistered footwear worth nearly P197 million during a separate operation.

Several foreign nationals were arrested and are facing complaints for violations of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. The suspects have yet to issue statements.

Meanwhile, in San Simon, Pampanga, authorities confiscated beverage worth more than P1.6 million allegedly not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.

Police arrested five Chinese nationals believed to be involved in the illegal manufacturing and distribution of the products.

One additional suspect remains at large, according to the Philippine National Police.