LEBAK, Sultan Kudarat — Authorities seized more than ₱1.4 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and arrested a local fisherman during a pre-dawn police operation on April 17, 2026, in Barangay Kinudalan.
The confiscation stemmed from a joint mobile patrol conducted by personnel of the Lebak Municipal Police Station and the 2nd Sultan Kudarat Provincial Mobile Force Company at around 1:45 a.m. under the government’s Safer City Project initiative.
Police said the operation led them to Purok 5, where officers noticed a man walking along the road shirtless while carrying a carton box—behavior that raised suspicion and prompted authorities to conduct verification.
The individual, identified only by his alias “Moy-moy,” 34, a fisherman and resident of the area, was found to be in possession of a box containing suspected smuggled cigarettes. A follow-up inspection of his residence—reportedly open at the time—led to the discovery of additional cartons of similar items both inside and outside the house.
An on-site inventory, witnessed by a barangay kagawad, resulted in the seizure of 30 boxes (1,500 reams) of GreenHill cigarettes and three boxes (150 reams) of FORT cigarettes, with an estimated total value of ₱1,411,872.
Police immediately coordinated with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) through Viber to verify the legality of the items. While no customs examiner was immediately available, BOC personnel advised officers to bring the confiscated goods to the police station for proper documentation pending formal examination.
Authorities said the suspect failed to present any documents authorizing possession or transport of the cigarettes, leading to his arrest.
He now faces charges for violating Republic Act 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act 10643.
Police said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Both the suspect and the seized items were brought to the Lebak Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition. Coordination with the Bureau of Customs is ongoing for further examination and case buildup.
Authorities reiterated their commitment to intensify operations against smuggling activities, which continue to undermine government revenues and public health regulations.