KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Norte — A patient transport vehicle reportedly operating as an ambulance from Sultan Naga Dimaporo was intercepted at a checkpoint in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, leading to the arrest of two men and the seizure of an estimated ₱1.08 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes.
Personnel of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd PMFC) stopped the Toyota Hi-Ace passenger/emergency patient transport vehicle at a checkpoint in Purok 1, Barangay Bansarvil 1, Kapatagan, as it was traveling from Sultan Naga Dimaporo toward Kapatagan.
A subsequent inspection uncovered a large quantity of cigarettes inside the vehicle, including 22 master cases of New Far Red cigarettes and five master cases of cigarettes of other brands.
The two occupants — a 31-year-old driver and a 19-year-old passenger — were taken into custody and brought to the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station (MPS) for documentation. Both are residents of Purok 8, Poblacion, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.
The interception has drawn attention because the vehicle was being used as a patient transport/emergency vehicle, yet authorities said it was found carrying a substantial volume of cigarettes suspected to have been illegally transported.
The seized cigarettes and the vehicle remain under the custody of the 2nd PMFC pending their formal turnover to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate legal action.
The operation is part of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office’s intensified checkpoint operations aimed at preventing the illegal transportation of goods and curbing smuggling activities across the province.
Police also urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities that may be connected to the illegal movement of goods. Authorities said public cooperation remains important in disrupting smuggling operations and holding those responsible accountable.
Further details regarding the source of the cigarettes, their intended destination and the specific charges to be filed against the two arrested individuals are expected to be determined through the succeeding investigation and legal proceedings.