COTABATO CITY — A total of 110 boxes of smuggled Molton Menthol cigarettes seized during an anti-smuggling operation in Cotabato City were destroyed by burning on September 29, 2026, following a court order directing the disposal of the confiscated tobacco products.
The destruction was carried out by personnel of Cotabato City Police Station 2 (PS2) at the designated dumpsite in Purok Hidaya, Barangay Poblacion 9, and was witnessed by officials of the Barangay Local Government Unit of Poblacion.
The cigarettes were part of a shipment intercepted on August 18, 2026, along the diversion road in Barangay Poblacion 8, where personnel of the 6th Marine Battalion, Philippine Marine Corps stopped a wing-van truck suspected of transporting smuggled tobacco products.
The operation resulted in the arrest of suspects who were subsequently turned over to Police Station 2 for appropriate legal proceedings.
Court orders destruction of seized cigarettes
According to the PS2 progress report, the destruction was conducted pursuant to a court order issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Cotabato City under Criminal Case No. 2026-18027.
The court ordered the seized cigarettes destroyed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the tobacco law cited in the case.
Authorities proceeded with the destruction after the court issued the necessary disposition order, preventing the confiscated contraband from being returned to circulation.
The 110 boxes of Molton Menthol cigarettes were burned at the designated disposal site in Purok Hidaya, Poblacion 9, under the supervision of the police.
Two accused fined ₱5,000
The PS2 report also identified Hamid Manday and Faharudin Manday as among those arrested in connection with the August 18 interception.
The police report stated that the two accused were found guilty in connection with the smuggling of the contraband and were sentenced to pay a ₱5,000 fine.
The suspects had been arrested after the Marines intercepted the wing-van truck along the diversion road in Poblacion 8. The seized shipment was subsequently turned over to the Bureau of Customs for appropriate action.
The seizure and subsequent destruction underscore the continuing enforcement efforts of law enforcement agencies against the movement of untaxed and unauthorized tobacco products in Cotabato City.
Authorities continue to remind the public that the transportation, possession, and distribution of smuggled cigarettes may result in criminal and administrative consequences, depending on the circumstances and applicable laws.
With the court-ordered destruction completed, the 110 boxes of Molton Menthol cigarettes seized in the August operation have been removed from the illicit supply chain.