Police arrested five men - four Chinese nationals and one Filipino - after raiding a warehouse allegedly used for the illegal manufacture of cigarettes in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, authorities said.

The raid was conducted at around 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Barangay Joson after police received information about a suspected illegal cigarette operation.

Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office Director Col. Ritchie Claravall said authorities inspected the warehouse and found equipment and raw materials believed to be used in cigarette production. The occupants also failed to present the necessary business documents during the operation.

“Base po ito sa telephone call at pinuntahan natin ng mga pulis natin at inimbestigahan. Nakita nga po ito na isang bodega na gawaan ng sigarilyo. Right now, wala silang maipakitang kaukulang dokumento at kasama din po natin ang local business permit office natin at MENRO. Iimbestigahan pa po natin. So right now, meron po tayong subject for investigation na apat na Chinese. 'Yung mga tobacco pa lang na raw, tapos mga makina nila na gilingan, tapos meron pa silang boiler sa loob. Ayun po at iimbestigahan pa po natin,” Claravall said.

Police said the warehouse's remote location in a mountainous area, far from residential communities, also raised suspicion.

Authorities said a strong odor could already be smelled outside the warehouse, prompting responding personnel to wear face masks before entering the facility.

Inside, police found large piles of dried tobacco leaves, tobacco-processing machines, ground tobacco spread across the concrete floor, and several sacks containing what authorities suspect were finished cigarette products.

Claravall confirmed that the four foreign nationals were taken into police custody for investigation.

“Opo, Chinese po, at dinala natin sa presinto para maimbestigahan,” he said.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the operation, including possible violations of tax, customs, and business regulations. The total value of the seized equipment and suspected tobacco products has yet to be determined.

The arrested suspects remain under police custody and have not yet issued any public statement as of press time.