LAWMEN arrested two individuals and seized some P1.34 million worth of contrabands in an intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operation in Maguindanao del Norte, the police said Friday, August 1, 2025.
Police Brigadier General Jaysen De Guzman, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Pro-Bar) director, identified the arrested individuals by their aliases as Rodel, 38, of Zamboanga City; and, Richard, 29, of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.
De Guzman said Rodel and Richard were arrested on Thursday, July 31, in Poblacion Dalican village, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
De Guzman said the police operatives launched a checkpoint operation after receiving a report from a concerned citizen regarding an alleged shipment of smuggled cigarettes.
While conducting checkpoint operation, the operatives found that the closed van they stopped for inspection was loaded with assorted cigarettes.
De Guzman said Rodel and Richard were arrested after they failed to present documents for the cargos they were transporting.
He said seized were some 35 master cases and 87 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth P1,345,690.
The suspects and confiscated items were placed under the custody of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and the filing of appropriate charges. (SunStar Zamboanga)