OVER P21-M OF SMUGGLED CIGARETTES, SEIZED IN MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE AND LANAO DEL SUR; 12 ARRESTED

Photo: PRO-BAR / Facebook

Authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have succeeded in seizing a total of ₱21.55 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in two separate operations. Police Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, Director of PRO-BAR, lauded the operatives’ swift action against rampant smuggling that continues to wreak havoc on the region’s economy.

In the first operation in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on April 20, police intercepted a convoy of three vehicles in Barangay Duran at around 1:20 a.m. An estimated 6,500 reams of Indonesian-made cigarettes worth ₱5.43 million were seized from a mini van, an Elf truck, and a Toyota Fortuner. Arrested were 12 suspects, all residents of Lanao del Sur and Tacurong City, identified as Jonada Boga, Norwaffy Mangayao, Mohaimen Camara, Ali Abubacar, Alinor Esmail, Mike Mangontra, Alzayn Demao, Norhana Abdulrahman, Hamza Esmail, Alkhair Bilao, Alnahar Raraco, and Raisa Mangontra. Aside from the contraband, a .45 caliber gun was also recovered, leading to the suspects being charged with violations of the Anti-Smuggling Law and Republic Act 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms.

Following this, on April 21, a larger consignment of contraband was discovered in Brgy. BPS Village, Malabang, Lanao del Sur. Authorities found three abandoned trucks—two Isuzu Elfs and one Mazda Titan—laden with 403 master cases of Berlin and Canon cigarettes. The said products were estimated to be worth ₱16.12 million and were deliberately covered with sacks of coconut to avoid detection. Although no suspects were found in the area, the vehicles and evidence were immediately brought to the Malabang Municipal Police Station for documentation.

All confiscated contraband from the two operations are set to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Sub-Port in Parang for appropriate disposition. According to Capt. Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson of PRO-BAR, these operations were the result of intensified checkpoints and intelligence gathering based on reports from legitimate traders and confidential informants in Cotabato City. Investigations are ongoing to identify the owners of abandoned vehicles in Lanao del Sur.