Manila, March 30 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) seized about PHP2 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes in nationwide operations from Jan. 1 to March 29 as it intensified its campaign against illegal tobacco trade.

Police conducted 3,153 operations, arresting 1,187 individuals. Seized were 246,085 packs and 484,064 reams of cigarettes, 9,961 master cases, and equipment used in illicit production.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group recorded the highest value of confiscations at over PHP690 million, followed by Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) with more than PHP147 million and PRO-4A (Calabarzon) with over PHP116 million.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said smuggling has a huge impact on t...