MAGSAYSAY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL — Authorities successfully intercepted an estimated ₱3.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a joint checkpoint operation in Barangay Kibungsod, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, on October 6, 2025.
Personnel from the 1001st Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB10), in coordination with the Magsaysay Municipal Police Station, carried out the operation that led to the discovery of the contraband inside a white Isuzu Traviz Utility Van.
According to police reports, the van was initially flagged down for inspection but suddenly sped off, breaching the checkpoint. In its haste, the vehicle’s rear door accidentally swung open, revealing several bundles of cigarettes wrapped in black cloth. This prompted authorities to pursue the fleeing vehicle.
Moments later, the van was found abandoned along the roadside, with the driver and a passenger having fled toward an unknown direction. Witnesses reported seeing two individuals running away from the scene.
Upon inspection, police confirmed that the vehicle contained 41 boxes and 439 reams of assorted cigarettes (Cannon Menthol), with an estimated market value of ₱3,500,000, based on valuation from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The seized items were brought to the Magsaysay Municipal Police Station for documentation and will be turned over to the BOC for proper disposition.
PCOL Al M. Abanales, Acting Provincial Director of the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office (MORPPO), lauded the swift and coordinated response of the operating units.
“This accomplishment demonstrates our firm commitment to strengthening law enforcement operations, particularly through overlapping checkpoints, to combat all forms of smuggling and other criminal activities that harm our economy and endanger public health and safety. We remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard our communities, protect our economy, and uphold the rule of law,” Abanales said.
Authorities are now conducting follow-up operations to identify and apprehend the suspects responsible for the smuggling attempt.