Malungon, Sarangani Province – Authorities seized smuggled cigarettes worth Php 35,000 and arrested one individual during a checkpoint operation on the National Highway at Purok Cebuano, Barangay Poblacion, on November 25, 2024.
The joint operation, conducted by personnel from the Malungon Municipal Police Station (MPS), 1st Sarangani Police Mobile Force Company (SPMFC), and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Sarangani Provincial Police Office (PIU SPPO), intensified monitoring in the area to curb illicit activities.
During the checkpoint, officers flagged down a black XRM 125 motorcycle with no plate number. The vehicle was found transporting 25 reams of Greenhill cigarettes without proper documentation to prove legal ownership or transport authority.
The suspect, identified only as alias “Mael,” a 54-year-old habal-habal driver and resident of Purok 1, Barangay Banate, Malungon, was immediately taken into custody.
Recovered evidence included the smuggled cigarettes, valued at Php 35,000. Both the suspect and the confiscated items are currently under the custody of the Malungon MPS. Authorities have confirmed that the seized goods will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for appropriate legal action.
The operation highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat smuggling activities and ensure the safety and integrity of the province’s economic and legal framework. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to identify potential links to broader smuggling operations in the region.