By Edwin Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Police manning a checkpoint in Datu Odin Sinsuat (DOS), Maguindanao del Norte arrested two men and seized from them over PHP1.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes on Monday morning.
Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia, regional director for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said personnel from the DOS municipal police station and the Maguindanao del Norte provincial police office jointly conducted a checkpoint operation in Barangay Dulangan after receiving intelligence about a possible contraband transport.
Abecia said the police officers intercepted a white compact van (license plate MAR-1949) at around 7 a.m., driven by an 18-year-old male resident of Barangay Madia, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur, with a 26-year-old male resident of the same barangay as a passenger.
During the inspection, police discovered alleged smuggled cigarettes concealed beneath the cargo area and covered with empty soft drink bottles in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Seized during the operation were 32 master cases and 21 reams of New Berlin cigarettes, totaling 1,621 reams with an estimated value of PHP1,387,057 based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) floor price.
Authorities also immediately coordinated with the Bureau of Customs Sub-Port Parang for appropriate action.
Abecia commended the operating units for their successful operation and underscored the importance of sustained law enforcement efforts against smuggling.
“The interception of these alleged smuggled goods demonstrates that our personnel remain vigilant and committed to enforcing the law,” he said. (PNA)
