LEBAK, Sultan Kudarat — Police recovered 300 reams of suspected smuggled Fort cigarettes valued at ₱256,704 along the shoreline of Barangay Tibpuan in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, during an early-morning operation on October 28, 2026.
Personnel of the Lebak Municipal Police Station (MPS), working in coordination with the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Intelligence Unit (SKPIU) and the Regional Intelligence Division 12 (RID 12) Tracker Team Delta, recovered the cigarettes at approximately 1:10 a.m. in Purok Sugpo, Barangay Tibpuan.
The operation was launched after a concerned citizen reported the presence of suspected smuggled cigarettes apparently abandoned along the shoreline. Police personnel immediately proceeded to the area to verify the information and found the cigarette products.
Authorities said no individual was found in possession of the items, and no one came forward to claim ownership of the recovered cigarettes.
Following the recovery, police coordinated with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which examined the items through a Viber call as part of the verification process.
The 300 reams of suspected smuggled Fort cigarettes were subsequently transported to the Lebak MPS for proper documentation and appropriate disposition.
The circumstances surrounding the cigarettes’ presence along the shoreline, including who brought them to the area and who may have owned or intended to distribute them, were not specified in the police report.
The recovery highlights the role of public cooperation in helping authorities detect and respond to suspected smuggling activities in coastal communities. However, the available report did not indicate whether the operation had resulted in any arrests or whether a formal investigation had identified individuals connected to the recovered goods.
Under the supervision of Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy M. Eliarda, the Lebak MPS reiterated its commitment to strengthening anti-smuggling operations and addressing other illegal activities through intensified police work and coordination with partner agencies.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the origin and intended destination of the recovered cigarette products.