Lawmen arrested an individual and intercepted a shipment of smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately P389,600 in Lanao del Norte, police reported on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Arrest and Seizure Details
Police Colonel Leo de Leon Sua, Lanao del Norte police director, identified the arrested individual as an 18-year-old driver from Bangco village, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The interception occurred during a routine checkpoint operation around 2 a.m. Thursday along the national highway of Campong village, Pantar, Lanao del Norte.
Operatives flagged down a vehicle for inspection and discovered discrepancies between the plate number displayed and the one on the Certificate of Registration. The driver appeared visibly nervous, prompting personnel to instruct him to switch on the vehicle's interior light for a visual inspection.
Discovery of Smuggled Goods
"During the inspection, authorities discovered several boxes containing alleged smuggled cigarettes in the rear passenger compartment. When asked to present documents authorizing the transport and possession of the items, the driver failed to provide any valid supporting documents," Sua said in his report.
Recovered from the vehicle were 487 reams of cigarettes with an estimated market value of P389,600.
Legal Proceedings
The driver is currently under the custody of Pantar Municipal Police Station for documentation and further investigation. The confiscated cigarettes will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs in Iligan City for appropriate handling and legal proceedings.
