Authorities seized more than P12 million worth of suspected illegal cigarettes from a house being used as a warehouse in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, morning on Monday, June 29, 2026.

As of this writing, efforts continue to identify those behind the illegal trade.

Police said the operation was carried out at around 6 a.m. in Barangay Mabini Homesite after a week of monitoring.

However, the drivers of an SUV and two vans loaded with the suspected illegal cigarettes managed to escape before they could be arrested.

Investigators said the suspects used a tarpaulin advertising siomai at the gate of the house to conceal the warehouse from public view.

Authorities found more than 500 boxes of different brands of suspected illegal cigarettes inside the house and the three delivery vehicles parked on the property.

The Philippine National Police is working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to determine the people behind the operation and verify whether the seized products were sold without paying the required taxes.

Cabanatuan City Police chief PLt. Col. Renato Morales said information from the community and strengthened intelligence work led to the successful operation.

“Ah, maliban po doon sa cooperation ng ating komunidad at pinalakas na intelligence gathering po ng PNP, nagresulta naman po sa positibong operation,” he said.

Morales added that the BIR would examine the confiscated products during the inventory process.

“Mamaya po, during inventory, i-check po ng BIR kung talagang ito ay hindi nakapagbayad ng buwis,” he added.