CAMP GALLEGO, Tubod, Lanao del Norte – A recent crackdown on smuggled cigarettes in Pantar, Lanao del Norte, led to the confiscation of approximately Php 22,800 worth of illegal tobacco products by personnel from the Pantar Municipal Police Station (PMPS). The operation, conducted on October 31, 2024, targeted several sari-sari stores across the municipality, uncovering numerous packs of cigarettes that lacked essential health warnings and tax stamps.
The seized items, currently held at the Pantar MPS for documentation, are scheduled to be transferred to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Iligan City. Among the confiscated brands were:
- Fort: 14 packs (white)
- Modern: 67 packs (red), 47 packs (green)
- Platinum: 7 packs (red), 65 packs (Gold), 3 packs (Menthol)
- Union: 28 packs (red), 5 packs (green)
- San Marino: 12 packs (white), 13 packs (red)
- Cannon: 15 packs (Menthol)
- Bravo: 9 packs (red)
The inspection aligns with PMPS’s mission to curb the illegal tobacco trade under Republic Act No. 8424, the “Tax Reform Act of 1997,” which mandates graphic health warnings and proper tax documentation on all tobacco products sold in the Philippines.
PCOL Roy A. Magsalay, Provincial Director of the Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Office (LDN PPO), commended the operation’s success, underscoring the need for vigilance and inter-agency cooperation in addressing smuggling and other illegal activities within the province.
“This operation underscores our unwavering commitment to uphold the law and protect the public from the harmful effects of the illicit tobacco trade,” said Magsalay, emphasizing the provincial police’s dedication to safeguarding community well-being.
