KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat — Three individuals were arrested after authorities intercepted a vehicle carrying 200 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately ₱171,136 during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Cadiz, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, on September 5, 2026.
The operation was conducted by joint personnel from the 2nd Sultan Kudarat Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd SKPMFC), Kalamansig Municipal Police Station (MPS), Regional Intelligence Division 12 (RID 12) Tracker Team Delta, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Intelligence Unit (SKPIU), and SKMARPSTA.
Authorities intercepted the vehicle at the checkpoint as part of intensified efforts to curb the transportation and distribution of suspected smuggled tobacco products in Sultan Kudarat.
A total of 200 reams of cigarettes, with an estimated value of ₱171,136, were recovered during the operation. The seized cigarettes were reportedly being transported without the necessary customs documentation, prompting authorities to take the occupants into custody.
The three arrested individuals are facing an alleged violation of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), which governs the importation of goods and provides penalties for customs-related violations.
Aside from the suspected smuggled cigarettes, authorities also discovered a Glock 21 Gen 5 pistol inside the vehicle.
Police said the documents presented for the firearm were submitted for verification to establish their validity and determine whether the possession and transport of the weapon were properly authorized.
The seizure highlights the role of checkpoint operations and inter-unit coordination in disrupting the movement of suspected contraband along road networks in the region. By intercepting the shipment before it could reach its intended destination, authorities prevented the suspected smuggled tobacco products from being further transported or distributed.
The operation also involved intelligence personnel and mobile force units, reflecting the police’s continued use of coordinated enforcement efforts to identify and intercept suspected smuggling activities.
PRO 12 Regional Director PBGen Alan B. Manibog emphasized the police force’s continuing commitment to stopping the movement of contraband through both land and coastal routes.
“These operations demonstrate our sustained commitment to stopping smuggling through both our road networks and coastal areas. Patuloy nating paiigtingin ang kampanya laban sa kontrabando upang maprotektahan ang ating komunidad at mapanatili ang seguridad sa ating rehiyon,” Manibog said.
The three arrested individuals, along with the confiscated cigarettes, were placed under the custody of authorities for proper documentation and appropriate legal proceedings. The firearm remains subject to verification of its documents and legal status.
Authorities continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement operations in Sultan Kudarat to prevent suspected smuggled goods from entering local markets and to hold those involved in alleged customs violations accountable under existing laws.