BUTUAN CITY – Authorities seized ₱63,880 worth of smuggled cigarettes during a joint buy-bust operation in Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur, on April 5, 2025.
According to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13, the operation was carried out in Purok 7B, Barangay Poblacion, by members of the Regional Special Operations Unit 13, Sta. Josefa Municipal Police Station, Tactical Operations Group 10, 300th Air Intelligence, Regional Intelligence Unit 13, and the Naval Intelligence and Security Force 74.
The confiscated items included 118 reams of Aris, 60 reams of Cannon Menthol, and 18 reams of President Red—brands known to be counterfeits.
A 33-year-old suspect, identified only by the alias “Abdi” from Barangay Servantes, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, was arrested during the operation. Authorities had been monitoring him for a month prior to the bust.
Police Regional Director PBGen Christopher N. Abrahano said the suspect will face multiple charges for violating the Graphic Health Warning Law (RA 10643), the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (RA 9211), the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), and the Tax Reform Act of 1997 (RA 8424).
Authorities are continuing efforts to curb the distribution of smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products in the region.