LUGAIT, Misamis Oriental — Police recovered 31 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately ₱992,000 after a Toyota Hi-Ace van figured in a vehicular accident along the National Highway in Barangay Poblacion, Lugait, Misamis Oriental, early Sunday, August 16.
The recovery was made at about 3:20 a.m. after personnel of the Lugait Municipal Police Station (MPS) responded to the traffic accident in Purok Salimbal.
According to the police report, responding officers found a white Toyota Hi-Ace Commuter Van unattended at the crash site. Upon inspection, they discovered 31 master cases of suspected smuggled Red Modern cigarettes inside the vehicle.
Driver, passenger fled after crash
Initial information gathered by police indicated that the van was traveling from Iligan City toward Cagayan de Oro City when its front right tire reportedly exploded.
The incident allegedly caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in the van overturning along the national highway.
Witnesses reportedly told police that both the driver and passenger fled the area after the crash, leaving the damaged vehicle and its cargo behind.
Police subsequently secured the vehicle and conducted an inventory of the items found inside.
The 31 master cases of cigarettes were estimated to have a market value of ₱992,000, based on the police assessment.
Vehicle documents raise questions
Further verification by authorities also uncovered discrepancies involving the van’s registration documents.
Police reported that the vehicle had an expired Official Receipt, while the plate number attached to the van allegedly did not correspond with the registration information.
Authorities also recovered a Certificate of Registration and another plate number from inside the vehicle, adding to the registration discrepancies noted during the investigation.
The police have not identified the driver or passenger who allegedly fled the scene, and the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s registration and the ownership or origin of the cigarette shipment remain subject to verification and appropriate investigation.
Cigarettes, vehicle placed under police custody
Following the recovery, the 31 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes were inventoried and documented by Lugait MPS.
The seized cigarettes, together with the involved Toyota Hi-Ace, were brought to the Lugait Municipal Police Station for proper custody, documentation and disposition, as well as coordination with the appropriate government agency.
The vehicle was estimated to be worth approximately ₱600,000. It sustained damage in the accident, although the extent of the damage and the cost of repairs have yet to be determined by a competent mechanic.
Authorities are expected to coordinate with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other concerned agencies to determine the legal status, provenance and appropriate disposition of the seized cigarettes and to establish possible violations arising from their transport.
The recovery forms part of the continuing anti-smuggling efforts of the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) against the movement of suspected illicit cigarette shipments across Northern Mindanao.
PRO10 Regional Director PBGen Christopher N. Abrahano emphasized that the incident highlights the importance of police vigilance, intelligence-driven operations and thoroughness in responding to incidents that may lead to the discovery and disruption of suspected smuggling activities.
Authorities continue to verify the identities and whereabouts of the individuals who reportedly abandoned the vehicle and to determine their possible connection to the shipment.
As of the latest police information, no arrest had been reported in connection with the Lugait recovery. The cigarettes remain classified as suspected smuggled goods pending proper investigation, verification and adjudication by the competent authorities.