A highway checkpoint operation in Aleosan, Cotabato, led to the arrest of a 45-year-old businessman and the seizure of approximately 2,000 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at ₱1.71 million on August 29, 2026.
Officers from the Aleosan Municipal Police Station, working in coordination with the Cotabato Police Provincial Office Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Division 12, and STT Echo, flagged down an Isuzu Elf Reefer Van Truck in Barangay San Mateo.
The driver, identified by the alias “Mando,” reportedly ignored police signals and attempted to evade the checkpoint, sparking a pursuit that ended in his interception and arrest.
Authorities have secured the vehicle and the illicit cargo for legal processing. The suspect faces charges for violating Republic Act No. 10863 (the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority).
The case is set to be filed with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Midsayap.
Chief PNP Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. lauded the operation, stressing the importance of police vigilance in disrupting the flow of illegal goods.
“We will continue to strengthen our presence where it matters most—on the roads, in communities, and at points where illegal goods may pass,” Gen. Nartatez said. “Our objective is simple: if there is suspicious movement
