Photo courtesy of CCPO.
COTABATO CITY — Authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle cigarettes after a suspicious truck was discovered in a coastal village before dawn on Wednesday.
Personnel of the Cotabato City Police Office responded to a tip about a vehicle allegedly carrying illicit goods and proceeded to a remote area in Barangay Kalanganan 2.
City police director Jibin Bongcayao said officers from a local police station were dispatched to verify the report and secure the site.
Upon arrival, they found an Isuzu truck parked along a secluded road with boxes of cigarettes loaded at the back.
Several unidentified men were seen fleeing the scene, taking advantage of the darkness and leaving the cargo behind.
Authorities later confirmed that the shipment consisted of around 70 master cases of Bosqu brand cigarettes.
The seized items were estimated to be worth about Php3 million and were taken into custody by the responding police unit.
The contraband will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs as investigators prepare charges against those involved, including the registered owner of the vehicle, for alleged violations of customs laws.
