Authorities seize nearly 700,000 illicit cigarettes in Luzon buy-bust operations

In a series of high-profile enforcement actions spanning nearly two months, law enforcement authorities across Luzon confiscated close to 700,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes, reinforcing the government's campaign against counterfeit and illicit cigarettes under "Oplan Megashopper.

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The operations, carried out by units of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) with support from the Philippine Tobacco Institute and other enforcement agencies, targeted various sellers, distributors, and repacking hubs across Quezon City, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Bataan.

Carnival cigarettes consistently surfaced in the raids, often in large volumes and alongside other counterfeit or smuggled brands.

The large-scale seizures in July and August represent one of the most concentrated crackdowns on illicit cigarettes in recent years, with authorities targeting Carnival as the most frequently confiscated brand.

The first major seizure occurred in Quezon City, where operatives arrested a 29-year-old online seller in early July. Authorities recovered 20,000 Carnival sticks in addition to counterfeit local brands.

Shortly after, two operations in Bamban, Tarlac led to the arrest of multiple suspects engaged in retail sales of illicit cigarettes. Investigators confiscated over 37,000 sticks of Carnival along with HP, Nice, and Playboy cigarettes.