TANZA, Cavite — Authorities have dismantled an illegal cigarette manufacturing facility inside a warehouse in Cavite, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed on Friday, February 20, 2026.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the operation was conducted on Thursday morning in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which issued a letter of authority for the raid. The warehouse, registered under the name “Cavite South Luzon Steel Management,” was found to be producing counterfeit cigarettes on a massive scale.

“This has been in operation since August of 2025. The estimated production has reached up to ₱2 billion since then,” Remulla revealed during a press briefing. Authorities seized machines, raw materials, and finished cigarette products believed to be intended for distribution nationwide.

The DILG also disclosed that the warehouse was falsely declared as a storage facility for canned goods, a tactic allegedly used to conceal its illicit operations. Remulla added that investigations are ongoing to determine the identities of those behind the factory and whether government officials may have provided protection to the smugglers.

Following the raid, Remulla issued a stern warning to retailers who continue to sell illicit cigarettes. “We already got the distributors and the manufacturers, now we’ll go after the retailers,” he said, stressing that supermarkets and market stalls selling illegal products will be targeted next week.

Authorities estimate that around ₱200 million worth of illicit cigarettes and equipment were confiscated during the Cavite operation.

The crackdown forms part of the government’s intensified campaign against smuggling and tax evasion in the tobacco industry, which has cost the country billions in lost revenue. Officials reiterated that consumers should avoid purchasing unregulated cigarettes, both for health and legal reasons, as the government moves to dismantle the networks behind these underground factories.