Police authorities in Lanao del Norte arrested two individuals and confiscated approximately P600,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes during a law enforcement operation, the police reported on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Arrest and Seizure Details
Police Colonel Leo De Leon Sua, Lanao del Norte police director, identified the suspects as alias Ray, 30, a resident of Zone 1, Tiguma village, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur; and Kai, 23, a resident of Adjid, Indanan, Sulu. The two were apprehended while transporting smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation at around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday in Purok 1, Bansarvil-1 village, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.
“During the routine inspection and verification of the vehicle, duty personnel observed several master cases of cigarettes inside the passenger seat area and cargo compartment,” Sua stated in his report. He added that both suspects failed to present the necessary transport and supporting documents for the cargo they were carrying.
Confiscated Items and Valuation
Seized from the vehicle were 750 reams of undocumented cigarettes with an estimated market value of P600,000, based on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) valuation of P800 per ream. The suspects were brought to the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station for documentation and appropriate disposition. The confiscated cigarette products and the vehicle used for transport were placed under the custody of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office, pending formal turnover to the BOC.
Colonel Sua commended the operating personnel for their vigilance and emphasized the importance of sustained law enforcement operations against illegal trade activities.
