ILIGAN City — Local authorities intercepted an estimated ₱1.12 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a joint highway operation at Purok 5, Sitio Mapalad in Barangay Dalipuga, Sunday afternoon.
The multi-agency task force, led by the City Intelligence Unit–City Special Operations Unit (CIU-CSOU) alongside Task Force Iligan and local police units, flagged down a green Isuzu Forward aluminum van heading along the National Highway at around 12:55 p.m.
Upon inspecting the vehicle (plate number CCR 3248), officers spotted several boxes of "GREENHILLS" brand cigarettes in plain view.
The van's 26-year-old driver—a resident of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur—and his two male passengers failed to provide required importation documents, Bureau of Customs (BOC) clearances, or proof of tax payments.
Key seizures & next steps
Contraband: 1,400 reams of "GREENHILLS" cigarettes (Estimated SRP: ₱1,120,000)
Transport: 1 green Isuzu Forward aluminum van
Status of Suspects: The driver and two passengers were temporarily released pending further investigation and BOC adjudication.
The seized goods and vehicle were inventoried on-site in the presence of Barangay Kagawad Delos Santos and a local media representative.
All confiscated items are being turned over to the Bureau of Customs for documentation and proper disposal as local law enforcement continues to tighten anti-smuggling checkpoints across the region.
