By Edwin Fernandez

FOILED SMUGGLING. Alert police officers account for the smuggled cigarettes seized at a police checkpoint in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on Thursday (Sept. 4, 2025). The contraband (inset), valued at PHP15 million, was hidden underneath sacks of charcoal aboard two 10-wheeler trucks bound for the Davao region (Photo courtesy of Den Banudan)

PIGCAWAYAN, North Cotabato – Police authorities arrested six suspects and seized PHP15 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a routine checkpoint operation in Barangay Panatan here Thursday.

In a report on Friday, Pigcawayan municipal police chief, Maj. Mark John Mutlah, said more than 300 boxes of smuggled cigarettes were loaded in 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.

He added that the cases of imported cigarettes were found hidden under piles of sacks of charcoal.

The suspects, all residents of Zamboanga Sibugay and Ozamiz City, said they intended to transport the charcoal to the Davao region.

All six suspects are detained at the municipal police lock-up, awaiting the filing of appropriate charges against them. (PNA)