KABACAN, COTABATO — Police arrested a 27-year-old businesswoman and confiscated 415 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at ₱355,240 following a checkpoint operation in Barangay Kilagasan, Kabacan, Cotabato, on November 12, 2026.
The operation, conducted at approximately 12:15 p.m., followed an alert from the Highway Patrol Group 12 – Philippine Highway Patrol Team Cotabato regarding a Mitsubishi Strada that allegedly evaded an earlier police checkpoint along Rizal Avenue in Kabacan.
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According to police reports, the vehicle, bearing plate number LAM 2548, accelerated and drove away after being flagged down for inspection. Information about the incident was immediately relayed to the Kabacan Municipal Police Station, prompting police personnel to coordinate with the Philippine Army’s Bravo Company, 40th Infantry Battalion, to intercept the vehicle.
Through radio coordination, joint police and military personnel established interception measures at the Kilagasan Checkpoint. The vehicle was eventually stopped, where officers reportedly noticed several reams of cigarettes inside.
A subsequent inspection led to the discovery and confiscation of 415 reams of Berlin-brand cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the area. Authorities placed the seized products and the Mitsubishi vehicle under police custody for documentation, investigation, and appropriate legal proceedings.
The driver, identified in police reports as alias “Set,” was arrested during the operation. She was described as a 27-year-old businesswoman and resident of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Police said she was informed of her constitutional rights following her arrest.
A male companion, earlier identified in the initial police account as alias “Mamin,” reportedly fled during the incident and remains at large. Authorities have yet to report his apprehension.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged cigarette smuggling operation, including the origin of the seized products and their intended destination, remain subject to further investigation.
Cotabato Police Provincial Office Provincial Director Police Colonel Ramel B. Hojilla reiterated the provincial police force’s commitment to intensifying operations against cigarette smuggling and other illegal activities.
“We will intensify our operations against smuggling to prevent illegal products from entering our communities and to protect the public and the livelihood of legitimate businesses,” Hojilla said.
The latest seizure highlights the continuing enforcement challenges posed by the movement of suspected contraband along road networks in Cotabato. Authorities have yet to disclose whether the confiscated cigarettes were part of a larger distribution operation or identify other individuals who may be involved.