Matanog: Police officers in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte, intercepted an attempt to smuggle PHP6.4 million worth of imported cigarettes hidden by two men inside a cement mixer truck. The operation took place on Tuesday during a routine checkpoint on the national highway in Sitio Marayag, Barangay Bayanga Norte, at 9:30 a.m.
According to Philippines News Agency, Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), reported that personnel from Matanog Municipal Police Station (MPS) noticed the cement mixer truck driver and helper appeared restless. During the inspection, officers from Matanog MPS, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14A, and the provincial police office observed several reams of cigarettes falling from the truck's cement mixer drum.
A further inspection revealed additional boxes of Greenhill-brand imported cigarettes. Police recovered 7,550 reams of imported cigarettes with an estimated market value of PHP6.4 million. The cement mixer driver, Jubiri, 30, and his helper, Naji, 20, both residents of Zamboanga City, were arrested. They confessed to transporting the contraband from Zamboanga City to an undisclosed location in Cotabato City.
In related operations, police in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte, intercepted PHP256,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in a vehicle during a checkpoint operation in Barangay Dinganen at 3 p.m. On the same day, police officers in Pigcawayan town, North Cotabato province, seized PHP760,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes while conducting a checkpoint operation in Barangay Central Panatan. The suspect claimed he was transporting the contraband from Cotabato City to Bukidnon.
