SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, Lanao del Norte — Authorities seized an estimated ₱3.2 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes after the driver of a cargo truck fled from a police checkpoint, triggering a pursuit operation in the early hours of Wednesday, March 26, 2026.
According to police reports, personnel from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (LDNPPO) flagged down a white Isuzu Elf truck at a checkpoint due to its visibly damaged windshield. However, instead of complying, the driver suddenly sped off, prompting an immediate hot pursuit operation.
The chase involved joint operatives from the Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipal Police Station (SND MPS) and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB 10), who coordinated efforts to track down the fleeing vehicle.
Minutes later, authorities discovered the truck abandoned in Purok 6, Barangay Pandanan. The driver had already fled the scene and remains at large as of this writing.
Upon inspection of the vehicle, police uncovered 80 master cases of “Fort White” cigarettes believed to be smuggled into the country. The total estimated value of the confiscated goods reached ₱3.2 million.
The seized contraband is now under police custody and is set to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition and further investigation.
Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities have launched a manhunt to identify and apprehend the truck driver, who may face charges for violations of customs and smuggling laws.
Police officials emphasized that the operation underscores the intensified crackdown on smuggling activities in the region, particularly in coastal and transit areas frequently exploited by illegal traders.