KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat — Police in Region 12 intercepted two men transporting nearly ₱903,670 worth of smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig, on Thursday morning, November 20, 2025.
At around 8:00 a.m., personnel of the Kalamansig Municipal Police Station were conducting a routine checkpoint along the Kalamansig–Senator Ninoy Aquino Road when they stopped a Mitsubishi dropside utility vehicle. The inspection led to the discovery of 23 boxes of Fort and Canon smuggled cigarettes, totaling 1,150 reams.
Authorities immediately arrested the suspects identified only as alias “Fahadi,” 22, a driver, and alias “Aram,” 26, a laborer. Both are married and residents of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur. Police said the two were informed of their arrest and their constitutional rights in a language they understood.
The seized contraband and the arrested individuals were brought to the Kalamansig Police Station for documentation and proper disposition.
Police Regional Office 12 Regional Director PBGEN Arnold P. Ardiente lauded the operatives for their vigilance, stressing that such operations are vital in curbing the entry of illegal products into the region.
“Our checkpoints remain vital in intercepting illegal goods that undermine our economy and endanger public welfare. The successful apprehension of these individuals proves that PRO 12’s intensified border security and crime prevention measures are yielding significant results,” Ardiente said in a statement.
The case is now under investigation as authorities prepare appropriate charges against the suspects.