Manila, Jan. 2 -- Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Friday ordered all police units to look into the possible connection between the PHP2.6 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes intercepted in separate operations in Batangas City and Malabon City on New Year's Eve.

"We are now looking into the possible link between the undocumented tobacco products we seized in Batangas and that in Malabon. Intelligence works and coordination with concerned government agencies are ongoing to determine if we are dealing with the same group or people and the same modus," Nartatez said in a statement.

On Wednesday morning, elements of the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) discovered about PHP1.1 billion worth ...