- DCPO cracks down on smuggling networks in May operations
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) seized an estimated ₱6.26 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a month-long intensified anti-smuggling campaign last month.
DCPO chief Col Peter Bauzon Madria said the series of operations was part of their crackdown on economic sabotage and the flow of contraband goods into the city’s borders.
According to DCPO data, law enforcement units intercepted several shipments of illicit cigarettes valued at exactly ₱6,260,080.
He said the operations were driven by sustained, intelligence-led initiatives and collaboration with partner law enforcement units, regulatory agencies, and barangay officials.
Madria emphasized that dismantling smuggling networks requires more than standard checkpoints. Rather, it demands rapid information exchange and inter-agency coordination to cut off supply chains before the smuggled goods reach the local market.
“Combating smuggling requires a united front where law enforcement agencies and the community work together toward a common goal,” Madria said, adding that these operations protect lawful commerce, safeguard public welfare, and prevent the entry of illegal goods that deprive the government of vital tax revenues.
He also credited the vigilance of Davaoeños who gave timely tips and reports of suspicious activities for the campaign’s success.
