CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 16, 2026 — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday destroyed ₱188,038,350 worth of smuggled cigarettes and vape products at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, escalating its nationwide crackdown on illicit tobacco trade and issuing a stern warning to smugglers operating in Northern Mindanao.

The public condemnation covered 4,360 master cases and 10 reams of cigarettes, along with 24 sets and 37 pieces of vape juice, seized in intelligence-driven enforcement operations across Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Camiguin.

The contraband was disposed of through hydrolysis and physical destruction at the Subport of the Mindanao Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, in the presence of Customs officials, partner law enforcement agencies, local government representatives, and private stakeholders.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the destruction demonstrates the agency’s intensified resolve to choke off illicit trade networks that undermine government revenues and public health.

“The destruction of these smuggled cigarettes sends a clear message that the Bureau of Customs will not tolerate unlawful importation and distribution,” Nepomuceno said. “We will continue to protect public interest and promote fair and lawful trade.”

The BOC stressed that cigarette smuggling deprives the government of billions of pesos in excise taxes intended for essential services such as healthcare, infrastructure, and education, while also disadvantaging legitimate businesses that comply with tax laws.

Leading the operation on the ground was District Collector Atty. Manuel O. Zurbito Jr., under whose administration the Port of Cagayan de Oro has intensified enforcement actions against illicit shipments in Northern Mindanao.

Customs officials credited Zurbito’s leadership for sustaining coordinated intelligence operations that led to the seizure of the illegal goods across multiple provinces. The Port has ramped up inspections, surveillance, and enforcement coordination in response to persistent smuggling attempts in the region.

The BOC underscored that the public condemnation was conducted in accordance with existing customs laws and environmental regulations to ensure transparency and prevent the re-entry of seized goods into commercial channels.

Officials said the destruction forms part of a broader national campaign to permanently remove illicit tobacco products from circulation and dismantle smuggling operations that exploit porous supply chains.

With the latest destruction in Cagayan de Oro, the Bureau signaled that enforcement operations will continue to expand, targeting not only large-scale importation schemes but also distribution networks operating within the regions.

The agency reiterated that all seized illicit goods will be destroyed, not auctioned or recycled, to ensure that contraband products do not re-enter the market.

“We are serious about this fight,” Nepomuceno said. “Smugglers should take this as a warning — we are watching, and we will act.”

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