Law enforcement agencies seized close to 700,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes in Luzon during a two-month campaign, with the brand Carnival emerging as the most frequently confiscated, according to authorities.
The raids, conducted under “Oplan Megashopper” by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and other enforcement agencies, cited Carnival’s prominence in the country’s illicit tobacco market.
The crackdown began in early July in Quezon City, where operatives arrested a 29-year-old online seller and recovered 20,000 sticks of Carnival along with counterfeit local brands.
Days later, two separate raids in Bamban, Tarlac, led to the arrest of multiple suspects and the seizure of more than 37,000 Carnival sticks, along with other contraband. In Cavite, CIDG personnel apprehended three suspects carrying various illegal cigarette brands, including 50,000 sticks of Carnival packaged as Black Menthol.
By August, the campaign was gaining momentum. A repeat offender in Laguna was caught selling assorted illicit products, with the bulk of the confiscated stock again identified as Carnival.
The single biggest raid took place in San Simon, Pampanga, where operatives uncovered a large-scale repacking hub and seized 520,000 sticks of Carnival Menthol, along with sealing machines, packaging blanks, and empty master cases.
Investigators said the Pampanga facility showed clear evidence of organized counterfeit cigarette production.
In Orion, Bataan, a 42-year-old resident was arrested with 10,000 Carnival sticks in his possession. Another operation in Angeles City exposed a retail outlet hiding 20,200 Carnival sticks among legitimate products. Authorities valued the Angeles haul at roughly 340,000 Philippine pesos.
The campaign’s most recent raid in Dinalupihan, Bataan, led to the arrest of a 30-year-old suspect selling counterfeit tobacco. Two master cases each of Carnival Menthol and Carnival Red were seized, amounting to 20,000 sticks.
While other brands were also recovered, Carnival accounted for the largest volume.
In total, enforcement agencies seized nearly 722,000 illicit cigarettes across Luzon, with Carnival consistently surfacing as the leading brand by volume.
Investigators noted that the confiscated Carnival packs either lacked graphic health warnings or were missing official excise tax stamps, clear indicators of their illicit nature.
Criminal charges are being prepared against all suspects, who now face violations of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, the Graphic Health Warning Act, the Intellectual Property Code, and other anti-smuggling and economic sabotage laws. Vehicles, repacking equipment, mobile phones, and marked money used in the operations were also taken into custody as evidence.
Rampant illicit cigarette trade has been linked to a decline in government tobacco excise tax revenues, which dropped from P174 billion in 2021 to P134 billion last year.
