Kiamba, Sarangani Province – On the evening of November 4, 2024, a coordinated checkpoint operation conducted by personnel from the Kiamba Municipal Police Station and other units led to the arrest of a smuggling suspect transporting a substantial cache of illegal cigarettes. The apprehension took place at Barangay Katubao in Sarangani Province at approximately 8:36 PM.
The suspect, identified only as “Marl,” a 28-year-old resident of Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, was stopped while driving a Mitsubishi Expander Cross in a shade of Titanium Gray Metallic. Police officers noted that the vehicle’s plate number was obscured by black cellophane, prompting further inspection.
Upon stopping the vehicle, police observed Marl acting nervously. When officers illuminated the interior with a flashlight, they discovered multiple boxes of cigarettes in plain view. Marl was unable to produce any documentation verifying the legality of the goods.
Initial estimates place the seized contraband at 599 reams of assorted cigarette brands, valued at approximately PHP 239,000. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act 10863), which prohibits the unauthorized importation of goods.
The confiscated cigarettes and Marl are now held at Kiamba Municipal Police Station for documentation and further legal processing. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to combat the proliferation of smuggled cigarettes, which continue to pose a threat to lawful commerce and tax revenue in the region.
Local police reiterated their commitment to stringent enforcement measures and heightened security at checkpoints to deter further smuggling activities in the area.
