PICONG, Lanao del Sur — Authorities dismantled a major cigarette smuggling operation in the coastal town of Picong, Lanao del Sur, resulting in the seizure of an estimated ₱77.2 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes, the arrest of 15 suspects, and the rescue of five minors during a large-scale intelligence-driven operation conducted before dawn on June 14.
The operation, spearheaded by the 1402nd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 14-A, targeted three makeshift storage facilities located on a vacant coastal property in Barangay Liyangan, an area long suspected of serving as a transit point for illegally imported tobacco products.
Authorities said the operation was launched after receiving verified intelligence reports indicating that the shoreline area was being used as a drop-off and storage hub for large volumes of smuggled cigarettes allegedly originating from Indonesia and intended for distribution across Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato City, and other parts of Central Mindanao.
A joint force composed of personnel from the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Regional Intelligence Unit 15, Regional Intelligence and Analysis Team, RMFB units, the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), the Philippine Army’s 51st Infantry Battalion, and local police units converged on the target area at around 3:00 a.m.
Upon arrival, operatives reportedly caught several individuals in the act of unloading, arranging, transporting, and guarding stacks of cigarette master cases inside and around the temporary warehouses.
When asked to produce legal documents proving ownership and lawful possession of the products, the suspects allegedly failed to present any permits, invoices, or importation records. This prompted authorities to place them under arrest for possible violations of Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, among other applicable laws.
A thorough inspection of the site uncovered a staggering 1,803 master cases and 139 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes bearing various brands, including Berlin, Cannon, Fort, Modern, Bosque, Greenhills, Mighty, and Astro.
The total value of the confiscated tobacco products was estimated at ₱77,197,095, making it one of the largest anti-cigarette smuggling operations conducted in the Bangsamoro region in recent months.
In addition to the contraband, authorities also recovered a 7.62-caliber M14 H&R Arms rifle with serial number 905946 from a watchtower located within one of the makeshift storage compounds, raising further concerns about the security and protection network surrounding the illegal operation.
Investigators revealed that four additional suspects managed to escape during the raid and are now the subject of ongoing manhunt operations.
Meanwhile, five minors aged between nine and 14 years old were found at the site and were immediately subjected to proper intervention procedures. The children are set to be turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) for protection and assistance.
Due to security threats posed by the presence of lawless elements in the area, poor lighting conditions, lack of communication signals, and the enormous volume of confiscated evidence, authorities were unable to complete the inventory process at the scene.
The seized cigarettes and other evidence were subsequently transported under heavy security to the compound of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, where formal inventory, documentation, and evidence processing were conducted in the presence of a barangay official and media representatives.
Police officials said intelligence gathered during the investigation suggests that the smuggling network has been supplying retailers and distributors operating in various municipalities across Lanao del Sur and neighboring provinces.
Authorities also noted that Barangay Liyangan has previously been identified as a landing point for small watercraft transporting imported cigarettes through maritime routes passing near the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi before reaching mainland Mindanao.
According to reports, information provided by concerned residents, local government officials, and provincial authorities, including the office of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., played a significant role in the successful operation.
PRO-BAR Regional Director PBGen Christopher M. Abecia lauded the coordinated efforts of the participating law enforcement units and partner agencies.
“The success of this operation is proof of the strong coordination and cooperation among our units and partner agencies in combating smuggling and other illegal activities. We will continue to intensify our anti-smuggling drives to protect the economy, maintain peace and order, and ensure that violators are held accountable,” Abecia said.
The 15 arrested suspects remain in police custody while undergoing booking and documentation procedures. Authorities are preparing the filing of appropriate criminal charges and have launched a deeper investigation to identify the financiers, suppliers, and other individuals behind what officials believe is a well-organized smuggling network operating in the Bangsamoro region.
Law enforcement agencies vowed to sustain intensified anti-smuggling operations as part of ongoing efforts to curb the entry and distribution of illicit products that deprive the government of revenue and undermine legitimate businesses.