ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Authorities seized a 20-foot container truck loaded with an estimated 300 master cases of assorted cigarettes worth approximately P44.7 million during an operation in the eastern part of Zamboanga City on September 28, 2026.
Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Zamboanga City Field Unit, together with operatives of Police Station 5, intercepted the container truck at Sitio Tala, Barangay Lumbangan, during the early morning operation.
According to the initial report, the vehicle was found carrying hundreds of master cases of assorted cigarette brands. The total estimated value of the seized cigarettes was placed at P44.7 million.
Alleged Driver Flees
The individual identified in the report as the alleged driver of the container truck managed to escape during the operation.
Authorities said the man fled toward a nearby forested area and remained at large as of the latest report.
Police are expected to continue efforts to establish the identity and whereabouts of the person who allegedly drove the vehicle and determine the circumstances surrounding the transport of the cigarette shipment.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of the container truck, which was taken into government custody along with the seized cigarettes.
Cigarettes to Be Turned Over to Customs
The confiscated cigarettes and the vehicle are set to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Regional Office IX for proper disposition and further proceedings.
The seizure places the shipment under customs authorities for verification and appropriate action, including determining whether the cigarettes were legally imported and properly documented.
Authorities have not released further details on the specific cigarette brands involved or the circumstances that led police operatives to intercept the shipment.
The operation highlights continuing law-enforcement efforts in Zamboanga City to intercept large shipments of cigarettes suspected of being transported outside the regular customs and regulatory process.
Further investigation is expected as authorities work to determine the source, intended destination and persons behind the shipment.
The information above is based on the initial police report. Details may be updated as authorities release additional findings.