POLICEMEN have arrested two individuals and seized some P4.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in an intelligence-driven law enforcement operation in Lanao del Norte, an official said Friday, April 24, 2026.
Police Brigadier General Christopher Abrahano, Police Region Office-Northern Mindanao director, identified the two arrested individuals through their aliases as Jomil, 25, and Argas, 35, both residents of Sulu province.
Abrahano said the two suspects were arrested early Thursday, April 23, in Purok 3, Koreo village, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.
“Acting on information from a confidential informant about a motorized banca allegedly transporting smuggled cigarettes bound to dock along the shoreline of the barangay (Koreo), joint operatives immediately proceeded to the area to verify the report, where they observed two individuals actively unloading boxes from the vessel,” Abrahano said in his report.
“Upon being confronted, the individuals failed to present any pertinent legal documents for the transported goods, resulting in their immediate apprehension,” he added.
He said investigation further revealed that the two suspects departed from Jolo, Sulu on Wednesday night, April 22, with Koreo village, Sultan Naga Dimaporo as their destination.
He said confiscated during the law enforcement operation were a total of 111 master cases of assorted cigarettes with an estimated market value of P4.4 million based on the valuation of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The two arrested suspects were brought to Sultan Naga Dimaporo Municipal Police Station while the confiscated smuggled cigarettes will be turned over to the BOC-Iligan City.
The suspects will be charged for violation of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. (SunStar Zamboanga)