Authorities in Mindanao have scored significant victories against the illicit tobacco trade, apprehending three individuals and confiscating smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately P1.2 million in two separate operations just after Christmas.
Pagadian City Bust Nets P735,000 in Untaxed Cigarettes
The first operation unfolded on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur province. Acting on coordinated intelligence, operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) conducted an interdiction in Putok Lapu-Lapu, White Beach village.
Police Major General Robert Morico II, CIDG acting director, reported that the team arrested an individual known under the alias "Dodong," 24 years old. He was caught in the act of transporting a large quantity of cigarettes that lacked the mandatory Internal Revenue tax stamps.
This violation falls under Republic Act No. 8424, the Tax Reform Act of 1997. The contraband seized from Dodong amounted to 21 master cases of cigarettes, with an estimated market value of P735,000.
Pikit Checkpoint Operation Leads to Arrest, Guns Found
The second successful operation occurred on Friday, December 26, 2025, in Poblacion village, Pikit, North Cotabato, which is part of the Soccsksargen region. Police Brigadier General Arnold Ardiente, the regional police director, detailed the events.
Joint police forces manning a checkpoint flagged down a pickup truck for a routine inspection. Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered it was loaded with smuggled cigarettes. The two occupants, identified as alias "Karim" and alias "Majid," were immediately taken into custody.
General Ardiente revealed that the suspects had been under surveillance prior to the arrest. Intelligence reports indicated they were transporting smuggled goods believed to have come from Barangay Paidu Pulangi in Pikit.
"Authorities monitored their movement as they traversed several areas in the SGA–Barmm (Special Geographic Area–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) before entering the area of responsibility of Pikit, Cotabato, where they were eventually intercepted at a checkpoint," Ardiente stated.
The inventory from the pickup truck yielded 12 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P471,480. Additionally, lawmen recovered a rifle and a handgun from the suspects. Both firearms are currently undergoing verification processes to determine their legality and origin.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Proceedings
Following the arrest in Pikit, Karim and Majid, along with all the confiscated items, were transported to the Pikit Municipal Police Station. Standard police procedures for booking, documentation, and in-depth investigation are now underway for all three suspects from both operations.
These enforcement actions highlight the continued vigilance of Philippine law enforcement agencies against smuggling and tax evasion. The collaboration between the CIDG, BIR, and regional police units demonstrates a multi-agency approach to curbing illegal trade, which deprives the government of crucial tax revenue and undermines legitimate local businesses.
