Police authorities arrested six suspects and confiscated around PHP15 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a routine checkpoint operation in Barangay Panatan, Pigcawayan, Cotabato, on Thursday.
According to Pigcawayan municipal police chief, Maj. Mark John Mutlah, more than 300 boxes of imported cigarettes were found inside two 10-wheeler trucks traveling from Zamboanga Sibugay to North Cotabato and the Davao region.
“The cargo trucks were subjected to inspection at the border checkpoint in Barangay Panatan, manned by the Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion at about 10 a.m. Thursday,” Mutlah said in his report.
Authorities discovered the smuggled cigarettes concealed under piles of charcoal sacks. The suspects, all residents of Zamboanga Sibugay and Ozamiz City, claimed they were transporting charcoal to the Davao region.
All six suspects are now detained at the municipal police lock-up, awaiting the filing of appropriate charges against them.