KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Sur — Authorities seized nearly 900 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth more than ₱680,000 and arrested a 38-year-old man during an intensified Commission on Elections (COMELEC) checkpoint operation in Barangay Daguan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur, underscoring the continuing crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade amid heightened election security measures.
The operation, conducted on July 27, 2026, resulted in the confiscation of 895 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱680,265.06.
Police identified the arrested suspect as Abdulbasit Aiyadi Abijo, 38, married, and a resident of Zamboanga City. He now faces charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10643, or the Graphic Health Warnings Law, and Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The operation was jointly carried out by personnel of the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station under the leadership of Police Captain Novelle J. Natavio, in coordination with members of the 1401st Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14-A and the Delta Company of the 64th Infantry Battalion, 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. The operation formed part of the intensified implementation of COMELEC checkpoint operations aimed at strengthening election security and preventing the movement of illegal goods across the Bangsamoro region.
According to authorities, the suspect was driving a white Ford Ranger bearing Plate No. NBM 9141 that was traveling from Picong, Lanao del Sur to Parang, Maguindanao del Norte when it was flagged down for routine inspection at the checkpoint.
Operating personnel reportedly observed unusual modifications underneath the vehicle, prompting them to conduct a more thorough inspection. Before the search could be completed, the driver allegedly attempted to flee the checkpoint but was immediately pursued and intercepted by the combined police and military forces.
A subsequent inspection uncovered a sophisticated concealment method used to transport the contraband. Authorities discovered 700 reams of D&J Red Premium cigarettes and 95 reams of D&J Ice Blast cigarettes hidden inside multiple secret compartments, including the spare tire compartment, cargo bed, beneath the seats, and underneath the vehicle’s flooring.
The confiscated cigarettes were immediately inventoried and marked in the presence of a representative from the Bureau of Customs and a barangay official from Barangay Daguan to ensure compliance with legal procedures governing the handling of seized evidence.
Police said the suspect was informed of his constitutional rights before being taken into custody. He was subsequently brought to the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station along with the confiscated cigarettes and the vehicle for documentation, filing of appropriate charges, and proper disposition.
The latest seizure highlights the persistent use of concealed vehicle compartments by smugglers attempting to transport untaxed tobacco products across Mindanao despite intensified law enforcement operations.
Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Abecia commended the operating personnel for their vigilance and swift response, emphasizing that intensified checkpoint operations remain crucial not only in maintaining peace and order during the election period but also in curbing smuggling and other illegal activities that undermine government revenues and public security.
Authorities said COMELEC checkpoints across the Bangsamoro region will continue to be strictly enforced as part of broader efforts to secure the upcoming elections while disrupting criminal activities that exploit major transport routes.