Six Suspects Arrested During Checkpoint Operation
Police authorities made a significant bust by arresting six suspects and seizing P15 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a routine checkpoint operation in Barangay Panatan, North Cotabato. The operation, carried out on Thursday, September 4, 2025, disrupted a major smuggling attempt involving high-value contraband.
Checkpoint Inspection Uncovers Hidden Cargo
According to officials, the seizure involved over 300 boxes of smuggled cigarettes concealed beneath sacks of charcoal. The cigarettes were loaded onto two 10-wheeler trucks en route from Zamboanga Sibugay headed toward North Cotabato and the Davao region.
“The cargo trucks were subjected to inspection at the border checkpoint in Barangay Panatan, manned by the Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion at about 10 a.m. Thursday,” local authorities reported.
Suspects Confess Intent to Transport Charcoal
Community members noted that the six detained individuals, all residents of Zamboanga Sibugay and Ozamiz City, claimed their purpose was to transport charcoal to the Davao region. However, the concealed cigarettes revealed a different story.
Authorities Detain Suspects, Prepare Charges
All six suspects remain in custody at the municipal police lock-up in Pigcawayan, awaiting the filing of appropriate charges. Law enforcement continues to investigate the smuggling network behind the operation.
For more news and updates on smuggled cigarettes, visit Filipinokami.com.
