Task Force Iligan Intercepts Smuggled Cigarettes
ILIGAN CITY – Task Force Iligan successfully intercepted and seized some 390 boxes of smuggled cigarettes worth around P16 million, officials reported. The operation, led by the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, demonstrated effective coordination against contraband trafficking.
Lt. Col. Neil Piad, commander of Task Force Iligan, said the seizure resulted from a hot pursuit that began at a police checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Suarez. The chase ended near a gas station in Sitio Camague, Barangay Tomas Cabili, where two small trucks loaded with the illegal cigarettes were cornered shortly after 10 p.m.
Arrests and Seizures During the Operation
Authorities arrested the driver and helper of one of the trucks, while those in the second vehicle managed to escape, Piad added. The registration and ownership documents of both trucks, as well as the driver’s license of the apprehended driver, were confiscated. However, the driver was later released.
Immediately after the operation, the confiscated contraband was turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper documentation and disposition, sources said.
Origin and Movement of Smuggled Cigarettes
Col. Rolando D. Orengo, acting commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, revealed that the smuggled cigarettes originated from Zamboanga City. They were picked up in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town in Lanao del Norte before being transported toward Iligan City.
Noting the challenges in monitoring contraband movement through coastal areas, Orengo recommended deploying a team of coast guard and maritime police in Sultan Naga Dimaporo. This measure aims to improve tracking and interception of illegal goods along the coastline.
Collaboration Among Agencies Ensures Success
The 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade covers Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and parts of Misamis Oriental. Orengo credited the success of the operation to the combined efforts of the Army, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Region 10, and the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.
Legal action against those involved in transporting the smuggled cigarettes will be initiated by the Bureau of Customs this coming Monday, officials confirmed.
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