KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Norte — Authorities intercepted an estimated ₱1.12 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation conducted by joint police and military forces in Barangay Butadon, Kapatagan, on the evening of May 17, 2026.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office in coordination with the 51st Company of the 5th Mechanized Battalion under the Armor Division.
According to authorities, the operation stemmed from a routine checkpoint inspection at Purok 1, Barangay Butadon when operatives flagged down a black Toyota Innova after noticing that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
During the verification process, the driver, identified only by the alias “Jailani,” allegedly failed to present the vehicle’s registration documents, prompting Land Transportation Office (LTO)-deputized personnel to issue a traffic citation.
However, while conducting a further inspection of the vehicle, operatives reportedly discovered a large cache of suspected smuggled cigarettes concealed inside the vehicle.
Recovered from the operation were 15 master cases of New Berlin cigarettes, five master cases of Modern cigarettes, and eight cellophane packs of Fort cigarettes.
Authorities said the confiscated items totaled approximately 1,400 reams of cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱1.12 million.
The driver was brought to the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and investigation, while the seized cigarettes and the vehicle were placed under the custody of the 2nd PMFC pending turnover to the Bureau of Customs for appropriate disposition and possible filing of charges.
The seizure forms part of intensified anti-smuggling operations in Northern Mindanao aimed at curbing the proliferation of untaxed and illegally imported tobacco products, which authorities say continue to deprive the government of significant tax revenues while fueling illicit trade networks.
Police and military officials have yet to determine the origin and intended destination of the contraband, as investigations remain ongoing.