STO. NIÑO, South Cotabato — Police arrested two men and confiscated 120 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at ₱102,684 during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Panay, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato, at around 9 p.m. on November 11, 2026.
The confiscation followed the interception of a black Bajaj motorcycle with an attached sidecar traveling from Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, toward Sto. Niño. Personnel of the 2nd Sultan Kudarat Provincial Force Mobile Company (SCPFMC), particularly its 4th Maneuver Platoon, reportedly spotted suspicious cigarette products loaded inside a wooden cage covered with plastic and mounted on the vehicle.
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Suspecting that the cigarettes could be smuggled goods, the checkpoint personnel immediately coordinated with the Sto. Niño Municipal Police Station and barangay officials to conduct an inspection and inventory of the items.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 85 reams of New Berlin cigarettes and 35 reams of Canon Menthol cigarettes, bringing the total confiscated volume to 120 reams with an estimated value of ₱102,684.
Police identified the arrested individuals only by their aliases, “Yow,” 19, a chainsaw operator, and “Tinku,” 21. Both are residents of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Also aboard the motorcycle’s sidecar were two minors, aged 10 and 13. Authorities placed the children under protective custody and subsequently turned them over to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) for appropriate intervention.
The involvement of the minors adds a child-protection dimension to the incident, as authorities will need to ensure that their welfare and safety are addressed independently of the investigation involving the two adult suspects.
The operation was coordinated with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in General Santos City, which may assist in determining the regulatory and legal status of the confiscated cigarette products.
Police said the two arrested individuals were informed of their constitutional rights and remain under police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Koronadal City.
The seizure underscores continuing law enforcement efforts to intercept suspected illicit tobacco shipments moving between provinces in Mindanao. However, the final determination of whether the seized products constitute smuggled goods, as well as the criminal liability of the arrested individuals, remains subject to the appropriate investigation and legal proceedings.