Law enforcement operatives in Zamboanga del Norte successfully intercepted a shipment of smuggled cigarettes valued at over eighty-two thousand pesos during a routine checkpoint operation this week.
Highway Interception in Dapitan City
The seizure occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, January 13, 2026, along a major highway in Dapitan City. Personnel from the Zamboanga del Norte Maritime Police Station (ZDN-Marpsta) were manning a checkpoint when they flagged down a passenger bus for inspection.
Officers noticed several suspicious boxes aboard the vehicle. With consent from the bus conductor, the boxes were opened, revealing their illicit contents.
Details of the Contraband
Authorities confiscated a total of 72 reams of cigarettes with an estimated market value of P82,252. A critical violation noted by police was the absence of the legally mandated graphic health warnings on the cigarette packs, a clear indicator of smuggling activity.
Initial investigation traced the origin of the shipment. The boxes were allegedly loaded onto the bus along the Maria Clara Lorenzo Lobregat Highway in Divisoria village, Zamboanga City. An unidentified individual, who declared the contents merely as "assorted goods" bound for Bacolod City, was responsible for the shipment.
Ongoing Investigation and Disposition
The Zamboanga del Norte Maritime Police confirmed the confiscated items were transported to their headquarters for proper documentation and disposition. As of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, a follow-up investigation is actively underway.
Police are working to establish the identity of the shipper behind the smuggled cigarettes and trace the full supply chain of the contraband. This operation underscores the continued vigilance of authorities against the entry and transport of illegal goods in the region.
