PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Police arrested two individuals and confiscated an estimated ₱744,900 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during an anti-smuggling operation in Pagadian City on September 1, 2026, as the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9) stepped up its campaign against the illegal trade of tobacco products in Western Mindanao.
The operation was conducted at around 5:40 a.m. in Purok Madanihon, Barangay Balangasan, where personnel of the Pagadian City Police Station discovered suspected smuggled cigarettes loaded inside a blue motorized tricycle, locally known as a “bao-bao.” Two individuals were apprehended in connection with the shipment and were subsequently taken into police custody.
Police confiscated 13 master cases of Berlin-brand cigarettes, equivalent to approximately 650 reams, with an estimated market value of ₱744,900. The seizure represents another enforcement action against the movement and distribution of tobacco products believed to have entered the country outside the legal customs process.
Authorities said the two suspects are facing appropriate legal proceedings for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). The law provides the legal framework governing customs administration, including the regulation of imported goods and enforcement against unlawful importation and other customs-related offenses.
The Pagadian operation formed part of a series of anti-smuggling efforts undertaken by PRO 9 from August 31 to September 2, although separate operations during the same period were conducted in Zamboanga City. Police authorities said the sustained campaign is aimed at disrupting the transport and distribution of smuggled goods and preventing illegal trade from undermining legitimate businesses and government revenues.
The arrest of the two individuals also underscores the enforcement focus on the people involved in the transportation and movement of suspected contraband, rather than merely recovering abandoned shipments. Authorities are expected to pursue the appropriate legal process as the case develops.
PRO 9 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Elmer E. Ragay said the regional police command would continue strengthening operations against smuggling and other illegal activities through sustained police action and coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other government agencies.
The confiscated cigarettes will be subject to the appropriate legal and administrative procedures in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Meanwhile, the arrested individuals remain under police custody as authorities proceed with the necessary proceedings related to the alleged customs violations.
The operation highlights the continuing efforts of law enforcement authorities in Region 9 to curb the illicit tobacco trade, which authorities say can adversely affect legitimate businesses and government revenues. PRO 9 said it would maintain its intensified enforcement campaign against smuggling, illegal trade and other forms of criminality in support of its mandate to uphold the rule of law.