The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized approximately ₱270 million worth of recycled smuggled cigarettes in Sitio Kalangitan, Brgy. Cutcut-2, Capas, Tarlac.
In a report by RH Val Gonzales, it was stated that after a two-week surveillance, operatives from the NBI Special Task Force raided an incinerator company in Tarlac, where boxes of cigarettes were discovered.
JUST IN: P250M recycled na smuggled cigarette nasamsam ng NBI sa Capas, Tarlac | @dzrh5 Val Gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/ViS4aVYQml
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) February 21, 2025
NBI Director Jaime Santiago explained that these confiscated cigarettes were intended to be incinerated, but operatives found out that they were being resold at a lower price.
Two individuals were arrested by operatives, including the plant supervisor and the environmental consultant of the incinerator company.
According to NBI Special Task Force Executive Officer Richard Sison, the consultant received ₱17.5 million in buy-bust money for the initial purchase of the recycled cigarettes, which were loaded onto a ten-wheeler truck.
The NBI is currently targeting the alleged owner of the incinerator company, who was initially the primary contact for the transaction.
However, during the actual transaction, the two arrested individuals were the ones who received the buy-bust money.
Furthermore, the NBI is looking into whether the arrested consultant has ties to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), as he claimed to be a former employee during the initial phase of the transaction.
Economic sabotage is expected to be part of the charges pressed against the arrested individuals.
The NBI is also investigating the BOC's role in the incident, asserting that the agency should have monitored the condemned items until they were disposed of or incinerated as per regulations.
