CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City (July 3, 2025) — Law enforcement authorities intercepted an estimated ₱4.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a mobile patrol operation in Barangay Maria Cristina, Iligan City, on July 2.
Personnel from the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO), in coordination with Police Station 2–ICPO, made the discovery while enforcing the city ordinance against illegal terminals, colorum vehicles, and road obstructions. The patrol team noticed two suspicious vans attempting to evade authorities in the Overton area, prompting an immediate inspection.
Inside the first van, a white Nissan, officers found several boxes and a transparent plastic bag containing multiple reams of President brand red cigarettes. A similar inspection of the second vehicle, a white Toyota Hi-Ace, yielded the same contraband items. Neither driver could present valid driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, nor documentation for the transported goods.
Police arrested four suspects, identified only by their aliases: “Puding,” 42, driver of the Nissan van and a resident of Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte; “Asoy,” 17, single; “Mohnie,” 24, driver of the Toyota Hi-Ace; and “Allie,” 27, unemployed. Three of the four suspects are residents of Lanao del Sur.
Initial investigation revealed that the vans originated from Baloi, Lanao del Norte, and were en route to distribute the smuggled cigarettes in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City.
Seized from the operation were 119 master cases and an additional 50 reams of Red President cigarettes, along with the two vehicles used in transporting the contraband. The total estimated value of the confiscated goods is ₱4,800,000.
The seized items are now under the custody of the Traffic Enforcement Unit and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for appropriate action. Meanwhile, the suspects were released pending the filing of criminal charges for violations of Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, and Republic Act 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) Regional Director, PBGEN Rolindo M. Suguilon, lauded the team for the successful operation.
“PRO10, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, will continue to intensify its operations to safeguard our communities from illicit goods. I call on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” he stated.