Business · Philippines Bureau
Police seize P800,000 smuggled cigarettes from rescue vehicle in Iligan
Authorities in Iligan City intercepted a barangay rescue vehicle transporting an estimated P800,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes at a highway checkpoint. The discovery raises questions about the unauthorized use of government vehicles for illegal commercial operations.
LSN Philippines ·
ILIGAN CITY — Police have seized approximately P800,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from a vehicle that was reportedly being used for barangay rescue operations, marking another blow against contraband trafficking in the region.
Personnel from the Iligan City Mobile Force Company (ICMFC) made the interception on Thursday afternoon, October 29, when the vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint along Macapagal Highway in Barangay Suarez. The discovery of the large cigarette shipment inside the rescue vehicle prompted immediate investigation into how the vehicle was being utilized for purposes other than emergency response.
The seizure underscores ongoing concerns about the diversion of government resources and vehicles for unauthorized commercial activities. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the identity of the vehicle's operators or the intended destination of the contraband cigarettes.
The case has been forwarded to relevant law enforcement agencies for further investigation and appropriate charges. The incident is the latest in a series of contraband seizures in Mindanao as authorities intensify operations against smuggling networks.