AUTHORITIES arrested four individuals and seized some P15.29 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during an intensified anti-smuggling operation in the province of Lanao del Sur, a top police official said Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Police Brigadier General Christopher Abecia, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Pro-Bar) director, identified the four arrested individuals as Ricky Alesna, 46; James Carl Alesna, 20; Julian Sta. Teresa Jr., 42; and Mujib Alibasa, 21, all residents of Zamboanga City.
Abecia said the four were arrested personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and policemen in a law enforcement operation Friday, August 21, in Matampay village, Marantao, Lanao del Sur.
“The operation stemmed from an intelligence report received by Marantao Municipal Police Station concerning the alleged transportation of undocumented tobacco products from Picong, Lanao del Sur, reportedly bound for Maguing, Lanao del Sur,” Abecia said in his report.
He said the operatives have seized 556 master cases of assorted undocumented cigarettes with an estimated worth of P15.29 million when they intercepted a 10-footer truck van.
He said the arrested individuals were informed of the cause of their arrest and apprised of their constitutional rights before being brought to the office of the CIDG-Lanao del Sur Provincial Field Unit, together with the confiscated evidence, for documentation and proper disposition.
The arrested individuals will face charges for violations of the Graphic Health Warning Law, Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
Abecia commended the operating units for their successful intelligence-driven operation, emphasizing the importance of sustained coordination and vigilance in curbing the illegal entry and distribution of smuggled tobacco products in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
“This successful operation highlights Pro-Bar's continuing efforts to strengthen intelligence-driven law enforcement operations and curb the illegal entry, transportation, and distribution of smuggled tobacco products in the Bangsamoro region,” Abecia said in a statement.
The confiscation of the P15.29 million smuggled cigarettes came three days after authorities arrested three persons and seized some P2.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Cotabato City.
The three individuals were caught transporting smuggled cigarettes on Tuesday, August 18, along the diversion road in Poblacion 8 village, Cotabato City.
The authorities have seized 110 master cases of undocumented cigarettes with an estimated value of P2,750,000. (SunStar Zamboanga)