MAITUM, Sarangani Province — A man was arrested after being caught carrying two bags filled with smuggled cigarettes worth over ₱31,000 in Barangay Mindupok, Maitum, on the evening of October 29, 2025.
According to the Sarangani Police Provincial Office (SPPO), personnel of the Maitum Municipal Police Station acted swiftly after receiving a phone call from a concerned citizen at around 7:50 p.m. reporting the presence of a man with suspicious bags.
Responding officers immediately proceeded to Purok Masagipa and found the suspect in the act of carrying two black backpacks. With his consent, police opened the bags and discovered 40 reams of F2 cigarettes with an estimated appraised value of ₱31,432.
The suspect was identified as alias “Amid,” 39, married, a farmer, and a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Paglat, Maguindanao del Sur. The confiscated cigarettes were inventoried and tagged at the scene in the presence of a barangay tanod and an LGU-Maitum monitoring representative.
Police informed the suspect of his constitutional rights and brought him to the Sarangani Provincial Hospital – Maitum for a medical examination, in compliance with Republic Act 9745 (Anti-Torture Act of 2009). He is now under the custody of the Maitum MPS for proper disposition.
Authorities said the seized cigarettes will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for certification, while charges for violation of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) in relation to R.A. 12022 and R.A. 10643 are being prepared through inquest proceedings.
In a statement, the Sarangani Police Provincial Office reaffirmed its commitment to intensify operations against smuggling and other illegal activities, emphasizing its dedication to protecting the local economy and ensuring community welfare.