₱3.5-M smuggled cigarettes seized

A truck loaded with smuggled cigarettes worth ₱3.5 million was intercepted at a quarantine control checkpoint in Lanao del Sur, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) said Thursday.

The truck loaded with 68 master cases of San Marino cigarettes was intercepted in Barangay Pawak, Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur on November 25,

the Port of Cagayan de Oro said.

According to the bureau, the smuggled cigarettes were discovered when the suspects, who were onboard the wing van, failed to present their quarantine pass and medical certificates at the checkpoint.

Authorities inspected the vehicle, revealing the carriage of cigarettes.

The local police then informed the Port of Cagayan de Oro Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) which later confirmed that the cigarettes onboard the van were “illegally imported for failure to present the import permit and other necessary documents.”