In a major crackdown, the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) announced on Friday, December 19, 2025, the confiscation of smuggled cigarettes valued at a staggering P143 million. The contraband was discovered inside two container trucks intercepted in Quezon City.
Traffic Stop Leads to Massive Discovery
During a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. revealed that the trucks were initially flagged down for traffic violations along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City on December 17. This routine enforcement action led to the arrest of six individuals and the seizure of the illicit goods. Authorities also recovered P5 million in cash, which the truck drivers allegedly attempted to use to bribe the apprehending officers.
Nartatez stated that an investigation is ongoing to trace the origin of the cargo and identify the masterminds behind the smuggling operation. "The investigation continues to determine where the shipment came from and who are the masterminds of the smuggling operation," he said.
Smuggling Route and a Brazen Bribe Attempt
HPG Director Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan provided initial information indicating the shipment was loaded from a coastal area in Bauan, Batangas and was destined for Valenzuela City, following orders from still-unidentified individuals. This discovery prompted immediate coordination with the Bureau of Customs and other agencies for a case build-up and deeper probe.
In a related and audacious incident, personnel from the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 3 based in Camp Olivas, Pampanga, conducted a successful entrapment operation. They acted on confirmed information that individuals would try to bribe government officials to secure the release of the impounded trailer trucks.
"The catch there is you see how brazen these people are to bring the money inside the office of the HPG and doing it with impunity. They seem to have no respect anymore for the enforcer," Marantan emphasized. The truck owners went directly to the HPG office in Police Regional Office-Central Luzon and offered a total of P5 million to police investigators.
Arrests and Charges Filed
The entrapment led to the immediate arrest of three male individuals of legal age. "As a result of the entrapment operation, three male individuals of legal age were arrested, and bribe money was recovered, properly inventoried, and secured as evidence," Marantan confirmed.
The suspects have been informed of their rights and are currently in custody. Criminal charges for direct bribery and other violations are now being prepared for filing in court. This twin operation highlights the persistent challenges of smuggling and corruption, as well as the proactive measures being taken by law enforcement.
