(Photo courtesy of PRO-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Authorities confiscated approximately Php 6.4 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes in Misamis Occidental on Tuesday, October 20, as police intensified their campaign against illegal trade and drug trafficking across Northern Mindanao.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) said joint law enforcement operatives intercepted a truck transporting the contraband at a checkpoint in Tangub City around 3 a.m.
Authorities seized a total of 8,116 reams of cigarettes, consisting of 93 boxes containing 50 reams each, 44 boxes with 64 reams each, 25 boxes containing 20 reams each, and five boxes with 30 reams of Modern-brand cigarettes.
Two individuals, identified as the truck driver and his assistant, were arrested during the operation.
Police said the suspects were reportedly transporting the cigarettes from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, to Bulacan in Central Luzon.
The interception followed intelligence information indicating that the truck would pass through a border control checkpoint in Tangub City.
PRO-10 Director Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. emphasized that preventing the movement of smuggled goods remains a priority for regional law enforcement agencies.
“This operation sends a clear warning to smugglers: Northern Mindanao will not be a transit corridor for illegal trade,” Babagay said.
Meanwhile, PRO-10 reported significant accomplishments in its anti-illegal drug campaign between October 12 and 18.
During the period, police conducted 58 operations that resulted in the arrest of 63 individuals and the confiscation of approximately 619.884 grams of suspected shabu valued at Php 4.2 million.
Separately, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 10 Director Alex Tablate reported that the agency’s operations from January 1 to October 15 resulted in 103 arrests, including 84 individuals classified as high-value targets.
Tablate also cited figures covering 101 anti-drug operations that reportedly resulted in 233 arrests, noting that many operations focused on suspected drug dens.
“Of the 101 operations, there were 233 arrests, because we are mostly targeting drug dens,” Tablate said.
Authorities said they would continue coordinating efforts to prevent Northern Mindanao from being used as a transit route for smuggled goods and illegal drugs.
