SOURCE: RPIO PRO10
CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City – Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) intercepted a smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation at a border control point in Brgy. Liloan, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental on April 17, 2025.
The operation was conducted by personnel of the 1st Platoon Base-Regional Border Control Point (RBCP), 1002nd Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB 10), in coordination with the Bonifacio Municipal Police Station, Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office.
The operating units flagged down a passenger bus for an inspection. During the inspection, they discovered several suspiciously packed boxes in the bus’ luggage compartment. Upon checking, one of the boxes revealed a carton resembling cigarette packaging.
According to the bus conductor, the boxes were loaded as cargo from Brgy. Diplo, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, and were intended for delivery at the Tangub City Bus Terminal, where an unidentified individual was expected to pick them up. The conductor added that no passenger claimed ownership, nor were there any sender or consignee details provided.
The authorities recovered a total of 229 reams of Venus cigarettes, with an estimated value of PhP183,200.00 based on standard pricing from the Bureau of Customs. All confiscated items will be turned over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 10 for proper handling and disposition.
PBGEN JAYSEN C DE GUZMAN, Regional Director, PRO10, commended the vigilance of the involved personnel during the operation.
“The successful seizure of these smuggled cigarettes reflects our unwavering commitment to secure our borders and uphold the law. Especially during the observance of Holy Week, when some may attempt to exploit the season for illegal activity, PRO10 remains steadfast in its mission to combat smuggling and all forms of criminality across Northern Mindanao,” he said.
