Iligan City police, together with the Bureau of Customs, successfully seized smuggled cigarettes estimated at around 2.4 million pesos.
Police Major Rodulfo Arañador, chief of Police Station 1, said authorities tracked the abandoned vehicle after it bypassed a checkpoint.
“The vehicle triggered a flash alarm at our headquarters after failing to stop at Barangay Suarez checkpoint,” Arañador explained in a statement.
Traffic enforcement units, Station 1 personnel, CMFC officers, and the SWAT team immediately pursued the suspicious vehicle, following its path toward Barangay Lualan.
The vehicle suddenly disappeared, so authorities searched thoroughly in Purok 2A, Laranos Subdivision, and eventually found it abandoned.
Officials inspected the vehicle, discovered it fully loaded with smuggled cigarettes, and immediately informed the barangay officials and Bureau of Customs.
Bureau of Customs collector Datu Nasrudin Guro noted that most illegal cigarettes originate from Indonesia, exploiting the country’s vast coastline and numerous entry points.
“The checkpoints, police, and military support are crucial to intercept these illicit shipments, and we greatly appreciate the PNP’s continued assistance,” Guro added.
Authorities are now actively investigating to identify the vehicle’s owner and driver, who will face appropriate charges under the law.
This operation highlights ongoing cooperation between law enforcement and customs officials, emphasizing efforts to prevent illegal products from entering the Philippine market.
