SULTAN MASTURA, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE — Police authorities recovered 15 assorted cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of ₱605,764 after the items were found abandoned along the national highway in Barangay Macabiso, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte, on Sunday night, September 6, 2026.
The recovery was made at approximately 9:50 p.m. by personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14-A (RMFB 14-A) under the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR), following information received by police personnel while traversing the area.
Acting on the information, the responding team proceeded to verify the report and discovered several cases of cigarettes left unattended in the vicinity.
Police said no individual was present at the scene to claim ownership of the recovered cigarette cases when authorities arrived.
The items were subsequently secured and brought to the Sultan Mastura Municipal Police Station (MPS) for proper documentation, inventory, and safekeeping.
Authorities identified the cigarettes as suspected smuggled goods, but the circumstances surrounding their abandonment remain under investigation.
Police are now working to determine where the cigarettes came from, who owned or transported them, and whether they were brought into the area in violation of customs and other applicable laws.
The recovery highlights the continuing challenge faced by law enforcement agencies in curbing the movement of untaxed and illegally imported tobacco products in parts of Mindanao, particularly in areas where coastal and road networks can potentially be used to transport contraband.
However, authorities have yet to identify any suspect in connection with the recovered cigarettes, and no arrest was reported as of the latest update.
The recovered items will remain in police custody while documentation and other investigative procedures are being completed. Further action may follow once authorities establish the source and ownership of the shipment.
PRO BAR Regional Director PBGEN Christopher M. Abecia commended the operating personnel for their prompt response and vigilance, emphasizing the importance of acting on information and reports concerning suspected illegal activities.
“PRO BAR remains committed to intensifying efforts against smuggling and other illegal activities through proactive law enforcement and strong community partnership,” Abecia said.
The police regional office likewise continues to encourage communities to provide authorities with information that could help identify individuals or groups involved in smuggling and other illicit activities.
The recovered cigarette cases are now subject to further investigation as authorities seek to establish the complete circumstances behind their presence in Barangay Macabiso and identify those responsible for the shipment.