PANTAR, Lanao del Norte — Authorities intensified their campaign against smuggling after intercepting a shipment of illicit cigarettes valued at approximately ₱316,000 during a checkpoint operation on Tuesday, May 5, along the Pantar Road Border Control Point in Barangay Campong.
Personnel from the 1005th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB-10), in coordination with local police units, flagged down a sedan traveling from Marawi City en route to Iligan City. The operation was part of ongoing efforts to tighten border control and curb the illegal transport of untaxed goods in the region.
Upon inspection, law enforcement officers discovered several reams of cigarettes in plain view inside the vehicle. The occupants failed to present any legal documents or proof of tax payment for the items, raising immediate suspicion of smuggling activities.
Authorities confiscated a total of 395 reams of “Modern” brand cigarettes, notably lacking the mandatory government health warning labels required under Philippine regulations. The absence of such labels is a common indicator of illicit tobacco products entering the market without proper taxation and regulatory compliance.
Two individuals were apprehended on the spot and taken into custody. They were subsequently brought to the Pantar Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and investigation. Their identities have yet to be disclosed pending the filing of appropriate charges.
Meanwhile, the seized cigarettes, along with the vehicle used in transport, will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition and further legal proceedings.
Police authorities reiterated their commitment to intensifying checkpoint operations across key transit routes in Northern Mindanao, emphasizing that such measures are crucial in combating smuggling, protecting legitimate businesses, and safeguarding public health.
“This operation underscores our continued vigilance against illegal trade. We will sustain and even strengthen our checkpoint activities to prevent the proliferation of smuggled goods,” an official said.
Smuggling of tobacco products remains a persistent concern in parts of Mindanao, depriving the government of significant tax revenues and posing risks to consumers due to the lack of quality control and health regulation.