In line with the directive of Chief PNP, Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) has intensified its campaign against smuggling — the illegal entry of goods into the country without proper documentation or payment of taxes.
As a result of these efforts, authorities seized approximately Php 220,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes abandoned at Sitio Tenorio, Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on April 24, 2025.
According to the Maguindanao del Norte Police Provincial Office, the operation stemmed from a tip-off about abandoned boxes of cigarettes. Personnel from the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station immediately responded, leading to the confiscation of eleven (11) boxes of smuggled cigarettes.
The successful operation demonstrates PRO BAR’s strong commitment to the PNP leadership’s directive to suppress all forms of criminality, including smuggling, which continues to harm the country’s legitimate trade and economy.
PRO BAR Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Romeo J. Macapaz, called on the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious activities to authorities. He emphasized that the fight against smuggling is not the sole responsibility of the police but a shared duty of the entire community.
“The fight against smuggling is not just the duty of the police but of the entire community. With the public’s help, we can strengthen our campaign against illegal activities that threaten peace and order in BARMM,” PBGEN Macapaz said.
He further assured the people of Bangsamoro that PRO BAR remains faithful to its mandate. The regional police continue to coordinate with other government agencies to ensure a safe and peaceful region, in line with Chief PNP PGEN Marbil’s directive to maintain peace and order across the country.