69 nabbed in Pampanga illegal cigarette factory raid

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) arrested six Chinese and 63 Filipinos in a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga that was raided on suspicion of being used as an illegal cigarette manufacturing factory.

In a statement, the BOC said the six foreigners and 63 Filipinos – 52 men and 11 women – were inside the warehouse along Barangay Panipuan during the raid on Wednesday.

All 69 people will be turned over to the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said illicit cigarette manufacturing “undermines legitimate businesses, deprives the government of much-needed revenues and poses serious risks to public health.”

Initial findings showed that the warehouse was operating as a cigarette manufacturing plant but had no valid permits or authority.

The raiding team found several cigarettes and cigarette-making machines and manufacturing paraphernalia bearing the labels of several brands, which proved that there were on-site production activities inside the compound.

Several tax stamps were found scattered around the compound.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue is verifying the authenticity of the stamps and the company’s compliance with excise tax laws.

According to the BOC, the cigarette brands found inside the warehouse were similar to the cigarette brands the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) found inside 14 trailer trucks it intercepted on Dec. 31, 2025 in Barangay Singko Roon in Balete, Batangas.

The BOC and HPG are conducting an investigation on the alleged involvement of several Customs officials in the smuggling of cigarettes.

In Zamboanga del Sur, police seized P3.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested four people in Tukuran town.