MIDSAYAP, Cotabato — A 42-year-old driver was arrested after attempting to evade a police checkpoint in Midsayap, Cotabato, leading to the discovery of smuggled cigarettes worth an estimated ₱3.12 million inside a Mitsubishi closed van on Thursday afternoon, November 5, 2026.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Lau,” a resident of Barangay Tugbungan, Zamboanga City, was apprehended at approximately 5:30 p.m. along the National Highway in Barangay Sadaan, Midsayap, during a joint checkpoint operation conducted by the Midsayap Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 12 Special Operations Team (RHPU12-SOT).
The operation was part of the police units’ intensified campaign against carnapping and other vehicle-related offenses. Authorities said the incident began when the driver of a Mitsubishi closed van attempted to evade the established checkpoint, prompting police personnel to intercept the vehicle and apprehend its driver.
Lau was initially arrested for allegedly violating Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or their agents.
During the subsequent proceedings, the driver failed to present valid documents covering both the vehicle and its cargo. This prompted authorities to conduct a visual inspection and a search incidental to the lawful arrest.
The inspection uncovered a substantial quantity of New Khoor cigarettes consisting of three reams and 73 boxes, with an estimated total market value of ₱3,125,799.04. Authorities also noted that the cigarette products did not bear the required graphic health warnings mandated under Philippine law.
Police subsequently coordinated with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which confirmed that the recovered cigarette products were smuggled goods. The discovery resulted in additional charges against the suspect for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act No. 10643, also known as the Graphic Health Warning Law.
The seizure highlights the role of highway checkpoints in detecting the movement of potentially illicit commercial goods, particularly products transported through major road networks connecting different parts of Mindanao.
Beyond the immediate law enforcement operation, the case also underscores the continuing challenge posed by cigarette smuggling, which undermines legitimate trade, deprives the government of potential customs revenues, and circumvents regulatory requirements intended to protect public health.
The suspect, who was reported unharmed, was informed of his constitutional rights before being brought to the Midsayap Municipal Police Station along with the confiscated cigarettes for documentation and proper disposition.
Authorities are expected to pursue the appropriate legal proceedings in connection with the recovered contraband and the alleged violations.