Police operatives seized approximately ₱1.92 million worth of assorted suspected smuggled cigarettes after a truck driver abandoned the vehicle and its cargo while fleeing from a checkpoint operation in Barangay Ramitan, Picong, Lanao del Sur, on November 9, 2026.
The operation began when personnel manning a police checkpoint intercepted a Mazda Titan truck carrying 45 boxes of assorted cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the country. However, instead of stopping for inspection, the driver suddenly made a U-turn and sped away toward Barangay Ramitan, prompting police personnel to immediately pursue the vehicle.
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Members of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) of the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, together with personnel of the Picong Municipal Police Station, launched a hot pursuit operation in response to the driver’s attempt to evade the checkpoint.
The pursuing officers eventually located the truck abandoned in Barangay Ramitan. Its driver had reportedly fled on foot or through another route to an unknown direction, leaving behind the vehicle and its entire cargo of suspected illicit cigarettes.
Authorities placed the seized cigarettes, valued at approximately ₱1,920,280, along with the Mazda Titan truck, under the custody of the Picong Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition. The confiscated items are expected to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for appropriate action in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
The operation underscores the continuing challenge faced by law enforcement agencies in preventing the movement of illicit tobacco products through road networks in the Bangsamoro region. Smuggled cigarettes evade applicable customs duties and taxes, undermine legitimate businesses, and deprive the government of potential revenue.
Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) Regional Director PBGEN Christopher M. Abecia commended the personnel of the 2nd PMFC and Picong MPS for their prompt response and determination in pursuing the vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of the suspected contraband.
Abecia also reaffirmed the regional police command’s commitment to strengthening operations against smuggling, illegal drugs, and other criminal activities as part of its broader efforts to maintain peace, security, and public safety throughout the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
While the driver remains unidentified and at large based on the available police report, the recovery of the vehicle and its cargo provides authorities an opportunity to pursue further investigation into the shipment’s origin, intended destination, and the individuals potentially involved in its transportation and distribution.