COTABATO CITY – Authorities have intercepted more than PHP18 million worth of smuggled cigarettes found abandoned in two cargo trucks in Parang town, Maguindanao del Norte province, a police official said Monday.
Lt. Col. Erwin Tabora, Parang municipal police chief, said a joint operation involving local police, Marines, and maritime police personnel uncovered the smuggled cigarettes around 11 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Sarmiento.
"The contraband was discovered inside a red wing van (license plate GRFl-339) and a green wing van (CAJ-2981), but the drivers and helpers were nowhere to be found," Tabora said.
The discovery followed a tip from a concerned citizen who reported suspicious activity near the parked trucks. After validating the information, authorities launched an operation, leading to the seizure of 490 boxes of assorted smuggled cigarettes.
The confiscated items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for further investigation. (PNA)
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