CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City – Authorities intercepted nearly Php 10 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in an abandoned vehicle along the National Highway in P-4, Mamagum, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, on October 2, 2024.
Personnel from the Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (LDN PPO), discovered the contraband during a routine mobile patrol. They spotted an abandoned aluminum white Isuzu wing van with plate number CBR 8610 parked along the roadside.
Upon inspection of the van, authorities found it loaded with 247 cellophane boxes filled with assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes. The estimated market value of the confiscated goods was pegged at Php 9,980,000.00.
The seized cigarettes are now under the custody of Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and further coordination with the Bureau of Customs in Iligan City, which will handle the necessary legal actions.
PBGEN Jaysen C. De Guzman, Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10), praised the efforts of the operating team, emphasizing their commitment to curbing smuggling activities in the region. “This operation is a testament to our continued efforts in combating smuggling activities in Northern Mindanao. I hope this also serves as a reminder to everyone that PRO10 will remain dedicated and vigilant in its anti-smuggling and anti-criminality campaign,” he stated.
This successful operation is part of the broader campaign of PRO10 to strengthen border control and enforcement measures, ensuring that illegal activities, particularly smuggling, are promptly addressed to maintain peace and order in the region.
