BARIRA, Maguindanao del Norte — Authorities arrested a 57-year-old driver and confiscated more than ₱390,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation on March 25, intensifying the government’s campaign against illicit trade in the region.
The suspect was identified as Kamaludin S. Sarip, a resident of Malabang, Lanao del Sur. He was apprehended after police officers flagged down his vehicle at a checkpoint in Barira and discovered multiple boxes of cigarettes during inspection.
Seized from Sarip’s possession were 334 reams of Canon Menthol cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱390,780. According to the police, the cigarette packs lacked the required graphic health warnings mandated by law and were not supported by any valid documentation, raising strong suspicion that the items were illegally transported.
Authorities immediately coordinated with the Bureau of Customs, which subsequently confirmed that the cigarettes were believed to have been smuggled into the country, in violation of existing customs regulations.
The suspect is currently under police custody and is set to face charges for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, as well as the Graphic Health Warnings Law.
Police officials reiterated their commitment to sustaining checkpoint operations across key areas in Maguindanao del Norte, emphasizing that such efforts are crucial in curbing the proliferation of smuggled goods, which undermine public health regulations and deprive the government of significant tax revenues.
The arrest highlights ongoing enforcement efforts targeting illegal tobacco trade, a persistent issue in parts of Mindanao, where authorities continue to monitor transport routes used by smugglers to distribute untaxed and unregulated products.