MATANOG, Maguindanao del Norte — Authorities intercepted an estimated ₱6.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation Tuesday morning, March 17, in Sitio Marayag, Barangay Bayanga Norte, leading to the arrest of two men from Zamboanga City.
According to a report from the Matanog Municipal Police Station (MPS), the seizure occurred at around 9:30 a.m. when a joint team of law enforcement units flagged down a mixer truck for routine inspection at a checkpoint established along the area.
The checkpoint was jointly manned by personnel from the Matanog MPS, 1402nd Regional Mobile Company (RMC), Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14A (RMFB-14A), 3rd Maneuver Platoon (3rd MP), 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st PMFC), and the Maguindanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (MDN PPO).
During the inspection, operatives noticed suspicious contents inside the vehicle after several boxes of cigarettes accidentally fell from the mixer drum, raising immediate suspicion among the officers. The unusual discovery prompted authorities to conduct a more thorough search of the truck.
Upon closer examination, law enforcement personnel uncovered 7,550 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes concealed inside the mixer drum of the vehicle. The contraband was estimated to have a market value exceeding ₱6.4 million.
The driver of the truck, Benson Jubiri, 30, and his helper, Aslin Madzlan Naji, 20, both residents of Zamboanga City, were immediately arrested after they failed to present any legal documents or permits for the transport and possession of the large volume of cigarettes.
Police said the two suspects are now under the custody of the Matanog Municipal Police Station, along with the confiscated contraband and the mixer truck used to transport the illicit goods.
Authorities are currently preparing the turnover of the seized cigarettes to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition and inventory. Investigators are also working to determine the origin and intended destination of the smuggled products, as well as identify other individuals who may be involved in the illegal smuggling operation.
Possible charges related to violations of customs and tax laws are being readied against the arrested suspects.
Law enforcement officials said the successful interception highlights the continuing efforts of authorities to curb smuggling activities in the Bangsamoro region, where illicit cigarette trade has long been a persistent concern due to its links to organized smuggling networks and significant losses in government tax revenues.
Police also reiterated their commitment to intensifying checkpoint operations and intelligence-driven enforcement actions to prevent the entry and transport of illegal goods across provincial boundaries.