CAMP GALLEGO, Tubod, Lanao del Norte — Police authorities intercepted an estimated P760,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Lanao del Norte, on February 9, 2026, dealing another blow to the illegal tobacco trade in Northern Mindanao.
Personnel from the 2nd Platoon of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), in coordination with the Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipal Police Station (SND MPS), conducted the operation at Purok 3, Barangay Tagulo, as part of intensified law enforcement and border security measures in the province.
According to police reports, authorities flagged down a white Isuzu Elf truck bearing a tampered plate number JAG 4050 while manning the checkpoint. The vehicle was driven by a 26-year-old married male from Tetuan, Zamboanga City, accompanied by two passengers — a 31-year-old single construction worker and a 33-year-old married construction worker — both residents of the same area.
During the initial inspection, officers noted several violations under Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. The vehicle had a broken windshield, was unregistered, had an improperly attached and tampered license plate, and the driver failed to wear the prescribed seatbelt device. These violations constituted impoundable offenses.
As a result, LTO-deputized personnel issued a Motor Vehicle Impounding Receipt and Temporary Operator’s Permit (MVIR/TOP) to the driver. While conducting a more thorough inspection, authorities discovered several sacks of alleged smuggled cigarettes in plain view at the rear of the truck.
Further examination revealed that the cargo consisted of seven sacks of Canon White Menthol cigarettes, each containing 50 reams, and 12 sacks of Green Hills White Menthol cigarettes, also containing 50 reams per sack. In total, 950 reams of assorted cigarettes were confiscated.
Based on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) valuation of P800 per ream, the seized cigarettes have an estimated market value of P760,000.
Following the proper inventory and documentation procedures, the driver and his passengers were escorted to the Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipal Police Station for further investigation and processing. Authorities are now determining their possible involvement in cigarette smuggling and other related offenses.
Meanwhile, the confiscated cigarettes and the impounded Isuzu Elf truck remain under the custody of the 2nd PMFC of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (LDN PPO) pending formal turnover to the Bureau of Customs for appropriate disposition and legal action.
Police officials said the successful interception underscores the importance of sustained checkpoint operations in curbing smuggling activities, which deprive the government of revenue and pose risks to public health.
Authorities also urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious movements of goods and vehicles, stressing that community vigilance plays a vital role in maintaining peace, order, and economic stability in the province.
The Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening anti-smuggling operations and enforcing traffic and customs laws to protect consumers and uphold the rule of law.