PANTAR, Lanao del Norte — Police intercepted a vehicle allegedly transporting assorted smuggled cigarettes worth approximately ₱321,600 during a checkpoint operation early Friday morning, September 18, 2026, in Barangay Campong, Pantar, Lanao del Norte.
Personnel of the Pantar Municipal Police Station (MPS) were conducting a regular checkpoint at around 1:56 a.m. when they flagged down a Tamaraw FX bearing plate number TTX 493.
Police said the vehicle was subjected to inspection, during which officers allegedly discovered a large quantity of assorted cigarette products being transported without the required documentation.
The operation resulted in the arrest of a man identified only by the alias “Sal,” 36, married, and a resident of Marawi City, pending further investigation and appropriate legal proceedings.
Authorities said the confiscated cigarettes consisted of 50 reams of Modern Red, 100 reams of Modern White, 216 reams of San Marino White, and 36 reams of Bosqu Red.
The combined shipment was placed at an estimated market value of ₱321,600.
Police also seized the Tamaraw FX allegedly used to transport the cigarette products as part of the operation.
The arrested individual, vehicle, and confiscated cigarette products were brought to the Pantar MPS for documentation and proper disposition. Police said the seized items are pending turnover to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for appropriate action.
The interception highlights the role of routine checkpoint operations in detecting the movement of undocumented goods, particularly along transport routes connecting communities in Lanao del Norte and nearby areas.
Police Provincial Director PCOL Leo De Leon Sua commended the personnel involved in the operation, citing their vigilance in carrying out checkpoint duties.
“Our personnel will remain vigilant in our checkpoints and other law enforcement operations to prevent the transport of illegal and undocumented goods. We will continue working closely with concerned government agencies to ensure that appropriate laws are properly enforced,” Sua said.
Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the source and intended destination of the cigarette shipment. The allegations against the arrested individual remain subject to investigation and the appropriate legal process.