DILG Probes Lawmakers, ‘Tobacco Lord’ in Illegal Cigarette Trade | P275M Equipment Seized

Remulla: Lawmakers Sought Dialogue Amidst Cigarette Smuggling Crackdown

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla revealed that two Central Luzon lawmakers allegedly linked to illicit tobacco manufacturing and trade contacted him as authorities intensified operations against illegal cigarette activities. The disclosure came during a press conference on Thursday, February 12, 2026, as the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced the seizure of P39.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and dried tobacco products bound for Manila.

According to Remulla, the lawmakers reached out through intermediaries, seemingly aware of the ongoing investigations. “They (lawmakers) reached out. They already knew. I didn’t even say anything, they already knew who they were. Through their friends, they approached me again,” he stated. “They said they would talk to me, but I don’t want to talk to them yet.”

The DILG, in coordination with the BOC and the Philippine National Police (PNP), has been conducting a series of operations targeting illegal tobacco production and smuggling. Recent operations, spanning multiple locations including Pampanga, Cavite, Quezon City, Makati, Batangas, and Laguna, have resulted in the seizure of approximately 45,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, with estimated tax liabilities and penalties reaching P40 million.

The latest BOC seizure involved six container vans arriving from Zamboanga and Bacolod, falsely declared as containing dried fish and general merchandise in an attempt to evade inspection. The value of the seized goods totaled P39.3 million.

On February 17, 2026, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced it is investigating the possible complicity of the two Central Luzon lawmakers and a so-called “tobacco lord” in Pampanga. Remulla stated they are currently considered “persons of interest” in the investigation.

The investigation was prompted by the discovery of three abandoned warehouses in Pampanga believed to have been used for illegal cigarette production. Combined with previously seized undocumented cigarettes, the total value of confiscated items now exceeds P400 million. Authorities estimate each location could produce up to P160 million worth of cigarettes per day.

The BOC reported seizing approximately P160 million worth of dried tobacco leaves, recycled cigarettes, and filters branded “Chungwa” and “Fort” in Mexico, Pampanga. Another P115 million worth of machinery, packaging materials, and tobacco products branded “Modern” were seized in San Simon town. A previous operation on February 11 in San Fernando yielded cigarette packing components and boxes of “Playboy” cigarettes, also believed to be linked to the same network.

Remulla emphasized the importance of inter-agency coordination in dismantling organized illegal tobacco operations. He indicated that authorities are currently finalizing the money trail allegedly linking the lawmakers to the illegal trade and are verifying reports against them. “You know the investigative work. You fill in the blanks. Look at Point A and Point B first. Filling in the blanks is the hard part. How to provide the exact details so they can be accountable to the law,” he explained.

Customs chief Nepomuceno has ordered a verified registry of cigarette firms to strengthen anti-smuggling efforts, according to reports. The illicit cigarette trade is defined as activities that fail to comply with legislation, encompassing contraband, counterfeit cigarettes, and illicit whites – legitimately manufactured brands smuggled and sold without paying duties.