MATI CITY, Davao Oriental — Authorities seized an abandoned van loaded with an estimated P700,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during an operation in Barangay Dahican, Mati City on the evening of June 14.
The vehicle, a white Mitsubishi L300 bearing plate number LAQ 5928, was discovered abandoned in Phase 2 of Barangay Dahican at around 8:01 p.m., prompting law enforcement authorities to conduct an inspection.
The operation was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Frederick C. Sa-ao, Acting Chief of Police of the Mati City Police Station, in coordination with personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Davao Oriental Provincial Field Unit and the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office.
During the inspection, authorities uncovered 28 master cases of Cannon Menthol 100’s cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the country. Each master case contained 50 reams of cigarettes, with the total value of the confiscated contraband estimated at approximately P700,000.
Investigators suspect that the cigarettes were abandoned to evade law enforcement operations, although no individuals were found in the vicinity at the time of the discovery.
The operation was witnessed by Barangay Matiao Chairman Dave Devera to ensure transparency and proper documentation of the seizure.
Following the confiscation, the cigarettes were transported to the CIDG office in Mati City for proper inventory, documentation, and further disposition in accordance with existing laws and procedures.
Authorities have launched an ongoing investigation to determine the ownership of the vehicle, identify the individuals behind the illegal shipment, and establish possible links to larger cigarette smuggling networks operating in the region.
The seizure forms part of the intensified anti-smuggling campaign being carried out by law enforcement agencies across Davao Oriental aimed at curbing the proliferation of illicit tobacco products, which deprive the government of tax revenues and undermine legitimate businesses.
Police urged the public to continue reporting suspicious activities and movements of goods in their communities, emphasizing that community vigilance remains crucial in the fight against smuggling and other illegal activities.