Photo courtesy of PNP
Police and military personnel intercepted two wing van trucks carrying more than Php 63.6 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes in Madalum, Lanao del Sur.
The July 19 operation followed information received by military authorities about the movement of the two vehicles, which were reportedly headed for Marawi City.
Four adult occupants of the trucks were taken into custody and turned over to police for investigation and further legal proceedings.
A joint inspection of the first vehicle yielded 800 master cases of Modern cigarettes, according to the Philippine National Police.
Authorities found another 688 master cases of Modern and Englishman cigarettes in the second truck.
The combined shipment consisted of 1,488 master cases with an estimated market value of Php 63,662,592.
Police marked, photographed, inventoried and secured the confiscated items as evidence for the filing of charges under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Graphic Health Warnings Act.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Nartatez Jr. said the operation showed the importance of intelligence sharing and coordination among security agencies in protecting legitimate trade and government revenues.