DAVAO DEL SUR — Authorities have confiscated an estimated ₱7 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes after intercepting a delivery truck during a law enforcement operation in Barangay Camanchiles, Matanao, on Thursday, January 15.
According to Police Regional Office 11 Regional Director Leon Victor Rosete, operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group 11 flagged down the truck following intelligence-driven surveillance that pointed to illegal trade activities in the area.
Inspection of the vehicle revealed approximately 140 master cases of cigarettes believed to be smuggled, lacking the mandatory graphic health warnings required by law. Police said the shipment’s estimated value reached ₱7,000,000, marking it as one of the largest recent cigarette seizures in the region.
The driver is now in police custody, while the confiscated items have been secured for documentation and case buildup. Authorities are preparing charges for violations of customs and trade regulations, as the investigation expands to identify possible financiers and distribution networks behind the illegal shipment.
Rosete said the operation forms part of a heightened campaign against smuggling and other forms of illegal trade across Region 11, noting that similar recoveries have been made in separate operations in recent weeks.
“This seizure sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue those who profit from illicit trade,” Rosete said, adding that police will continue to intensify checkpoints, surveillance, and inter-agency coordination to curb smuggling activities that deprive the government of revenue and threaten public health.
Police urged the public to report suspicious transport and storage of illicit goods, assuring swift action as authorities sustain their crackdown on smuggling in Davao del Sur and neighboring areas.