TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay — A joint operation by the Tungawan and RT Lim Municipal Police Stations led to the interception of smuggled cigarettes and the seizure of a vehicle following a checkpoint chase early Friday morning, April 18.
The operation unfolded around 9:30 AM, after a Toyota Tamaraw Revo bearing plate number GKN 468 evaded a routine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoint at the Border Control Point in Barangay Baluran, Tungawan. Police immediately launched a hot pursuit, coordinating roadblocks with RT Lim counterparts to prevent the suspect’s escape.
Authorities later located the abandoned vehicle in Purok Ipil-Ipil, Barangay Mabini, RT Lim. The driver, however, managed to flee on foot and remains at large. Upon inspection, law enforcers discovered several master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes inside the vehicle, with an estimated market value of PHP 859,500.
A formal inventory of the confiscated items was conducted on-site in the presence of local officials from Barangay Mabini, RT Lim. The seized goods were then transported to the Tungawan Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and custody as police prepare to file appropriate charges.
“This successful operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to prevent the entry of illegal goods into the province,” said PCOL Barnard Danie V. Dasugo, Provincial Director of Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office. “The COMELEC checkpoint not only safeguards the integrity of the election period but also disrupts illegal activities. We remain relentless in preserving peace and order in the province.”
Authorities continue to investigate the case and pursue the suspect behind the smuggling attempt.