𝐏𝐡𝐩𝟐.𝟑 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐚, 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨

Police Regional Office 12 – Police Regional Office 12 operatives, under the leadership of PBGEN ARNOLD P ARDIENTE, Acting Regional Director, arrested two smugglers and seized Php2,349,912.00 worth of smuggled cigarettes in Checkpoint Operation in Purok 8, Barangay Poblacion, Makilala, Cotabato Province on January 28, 2025.

Personnel of Makilala Municipal Police Station, Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO), 1203rd Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 12, and Regional Intelligence Division 12, in coordination with Bureau of Customs 12, intercepted two minivans — black and green— traveling from Bansalan, Davao del Sur, to Makilala, Cotabato Province.

The two vehicles were found to be heavily loaded with 2,188 reams of Cannon brand cigarettes.

The driver of the black minivan, identified as alias “Marlon,” 37 years old, married, and a resident of Barangay JP Laurel, Panabo City, and the driver of the green minivan, identified as alias “Arslan,” 42 years old, married, and a resident of Barangay Baliwasan, Tabuk, Zamboanga City, were apprehended for failing to present the required documents.

The inventory and markings of the seized smuggled cigarettes were conducted at the site of the operation in the presence of the arrested suspects and witnessed by the barangay official of the said place.

Further, the suspects, along with the seized evidence, were brought to the Makilala Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and disposition.

“We are determined to leave no stone unturned until every unlawful operation is shut down, every counterfeit item is seized, and every perpetrator is held responsible and brought to justice.” PBGEN ARDIENTE said. ###(Pat Francisco, RPIO 12)