KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Norte — Authorities intercepted an estimated ₱160,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and apprehended a motorist during a strategic checkpoint operation conducted by joint law enforcement and military personnel in Barangay Bansarvil 1, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, on the afternoon of August 1, 2026.
The operation, carried out at around 5:00 p.m., was led by personnel of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd PMFC) of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (LDN PPO) in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the LDN PPO, the 51st Mechanized Company, and the 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion. The activity formed part of the government’s intensified campaign against the illegal transport and distribution of smuggled goods in the province.
Authorities flagged down a red Toyota Vios driven by a man identified only by the alias “Mar,” a 44-year-old resident of Barangay Makapaya, Kamaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, after checkpoint personnel observed that he was not wearing the required seat belt.
A subsequent verification of the vehicle’s Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) revealed that the car was unregistered, constituting an impoundable violation under Republic Act No. 4136, also known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. LTO-deputized personnel immediately issued a Motor Vehicle Impounding Receipt and initiated the impounding process.
During the inspection of the vehicle, authorities discovered several packs of cigarettes concealed beneath the car seats. When questioned, the driver failed to present any documents proving the lawful importation, ownership, or transport of the cigarette products, prompting law enforcement officers to seize the items on suspicion that they were smuggled.
To ensure transparency and adherence to legal procedures, a Barangay Kagawad of Barangay Bansarvil 1 was requested to witness the seizure and conduct of the inventory at the scene.
Recovered during the operation were 200 reams of Green Hill White cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱160,000, along with the Toyota Vios used in transporting the alleged contraband.
Following the inventory, the driver was taken to the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station for documentation, processing, and profiling. He was later referred to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for appropriate action in connection with the suspected smuggling case.
Meanwhile, the confiscated vehicle and cigarettes remain under the custody of the 2nd PMFC, LDN PPO, pending their formal turnover to the Bureau of Customs for further investigation and disposition.
Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Director PCOL Leo De Leon Sua commended the operating personnel for their vigilance and professionalism, stressing that sustained checkpoint operations remain a vital component of the province’s efforts to suppress the illegal movement of contraband.
He emphasized that close coordination among the police, military, and other government agencies continues to strengthen law enforcement operations aimed at protecting legitimate trade, preventing revenue losses to the government, and ensuring that those involved in the illegal transport of smuggled goods are held accountable under existing laws.