Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781584770215national-institute-of-allergy-and-infectious-diseases-Z2pq_4mj6BI-unsplash (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Authorities seized an estimated P70 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes and arrested 16 individuals during a joint anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Liyangan, Picong, Lanao del Sur early Sunday. <em>Contributed</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Authorities seized an estimated P70 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes and arrested 16 individuals during a joint anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Liyangan, Picong, Lanao del Sur early Sunday.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/04/15/22/tobacco-industry-sticks-to-game-plan-amid-the-pandemic">Tobacco industry sticks to game plan amid the pandemic</a></div><p>The operation was greenlit following intelligence reports that three makeshift storage facilities near the coastal area were being used as drop-off and storage sites for smuggled tobacco products.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/4/youth-orgs-sign-manifesto-urging-stronger-tobacco-control-1307">Youth orgs sign manifesto urging stronger tobacco control</a></div><p>Operatives found several individuals allegedly compiling, hauling, and guarding master cases of cigarettes inside the unfenced storage area when law enforcement teams arrived.</p><p>Police said the suspects failed to present documents proving the legality of the cigarette shipments, prompting authorities to place them under arrest.</p><p>During the operation, authorities discovered an initial 1,800 master cases of assorted cigarette brands, including Berlin, Cannon, Fort, Greenhill, Bosque, and Modern, which investigators believe were smuggled into the country in violation of Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/11/18/who-chief-urges-clampdown-on-nicotine-products-aimed-at-kids-0634">WHO chief urges clampdown on nicotine products aimed at kids</a></div><p>The confiscated products were estimated to have an initial market value of P70 million.</p><p>Authorities also recovered an M14 rifle from a watchtower beside one of the storage areas.</p><p>While 16 were arrested. four other suspects managed to evade arrest and remain at large.</p><p>Meanwhile, five minors aged between 9 and 14 years old who were found at the site were turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office for proper intervention and assistance.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/7/11/sen-pia-groups-reject-dave-gomez-as-pco-chief-over-tobacco-industry-ties-1254">Sen. Pia, groups reject Dave Gomez as PCO chief over tobacco industry ties</a></div><p>Police said the inventory of the seized items could not be completed at the scene due to security threats posed by lawless elements in the area, poor lighting conditions, and the large volume of confiscated goods.</p><p>The remaining inventory process was transferred to the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company compound in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/11/new-pco-chief-dave-gomez-on-criticisms-i-am-not-part-of-tobacco-industry-anymore-2015">New PCO chief Dave Gomez on criticisms: I am not part of tobacco industry anymore</a></div><p>The seized cigarettes, firearm, and other recovered items were brought to the PMFC compound in Malabang along with the arrested individuals for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sz7dWysFGck?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FRYqwrUzXMo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zBqyo6_7JBI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Authorities seized an estimated P70 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes and arrested 16 individuals during a joint anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Liyangan, Picong, Lanao del Sur early Sunday.</p>

Authorities seized an estimated P70 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes and arrested 16 individuals during a joint anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Liyangan, Picong, Lanao del Sur early Sunday.

P70-M worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes seized in Lanao del Sur

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P70-M worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes seized in Lanao del Sur

Jeff Caparas,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 16, 2026 12:45 PM PHT

|

Updated August 11, 2026 03:51 PM PHT

Read More:

lanao del sur

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