26/04/2026
OVER 218K WORTH OF ILLEGAL CI******ES SEIZED IN ECIJA ANTI-CRIME OPS
CAMP GEN. MARIANO N. LLANERA, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija — NEPPO confiscated more than Php218,000.00 worth of illegal ci******es during intensified anti-criminality operations conducted across the province on April 21, 2026.
A 37-year-old male suspect, a resident of Purok 6, Brgy. San Felipe Matanda, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, was arrested in a buy-bust operation against counterfeit ci******es conducted by joint operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), NEPPO, and Cabanatuan City Police Station in Purok 1, Brgy. San Isidro, Cabanatuan City. Seized during the operation were four (4) boxes containing assorted cigarette brands, including Modern Red, Modern Lights, Modern Black, and FS Filter ci******es, along with additional reams lacking tax stamps. The total estimated value of the confiscated items reached Php118,320.00.
Meanwhile, at about 4:05 AM, personnel of Lupao Municipal Police Station conducted an anti-criminality checkpoint in Brgy. Poblacion South, Lupao, Nueva Ecija, where they flagged down a black Suzuki Smash motorcycle with sidecar. Upon inspection, authorities discovered thirty-two (32) reams of assorted counterfeit ci******es with an estimated value of Php15,000.00, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old male vendor from Brgy. Curva, Science City of Muñoz.
In a separate operation, personnel of Licab Municipal Police Station conducting mobile patrol in Brgy. San Juan, Licab, Nueva Ecija, discovered a black Kawasaki tricycle (kolong-kolong) with a suspect nearby. Upon verification, operatives found assorted cigarette reams in plain view, including eleven (11) reams of Modern Red and nine (9) reams of Titanium Green ci******es, with an estimated value of Php10,600.00. The suspect was subsequently arrested.
Moreover, at around 9:15 PM, personnel of Zaragoza Municipal Police Station conducted Oplan Sita along Zaragoza–Panabingan Road in Brgy. Sto. Rosario Old, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, where they flagged down a silver metallic Toyota Fortuner for routine inspection. During the inspection, operatives observed a box labeled “Golden Leaf” in plain view. Further verification led to the discovery of five (5) boxes of suspected smuggled or counterfeit ci******es with an estimated value of Php75,000.00. Two (2) male suspects, both residents of Brgy. San Francisco, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, were arrested.
All arrested individuals are now under the custody of their respective police stations for proper disposition and documentation and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 8424 (Tax Evasion/Illicit Ci******es).
PCOL RITCHIE R CLARAVALL, Provincial Director of NEPPO, emphasized, “We will not tolerate the illegal cigarette trade in Nueva Ecija. NEPPO will continue to intensify operations and ensure that those involved are arrested and held accountable.”
These operations were conducted in line with the directives of PBGEN JESS B MENDEZ, Regional Director of PRO3, in support of the PNP’s focused agenda, “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.” # # #