A DRIVER was charged with violating Republic Act 10863, the Customs and Tariff Administration Act, after being caught transporting smuggled cigarettes at the Task Force Davao Sirawan checkpoint on December 25, 2024, at 12:30 p.m.
The driver, Mohammad from Zamboanga City, was apprehended after authorities discovered several reams of a cigarette brand on the passenger side of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) he was driving. When questioned, Mohammad admitted the cigarettes were smuggled, claiming they had been "already ordered."
Further inspection revealed more reams of cigarettes in the vehicle's rear section, leading authorities to notify the Bureau of Customs (BoC). The BoC inventory counted 1,305 reams of smuggled cigarettes, valued at P1,025,469. Mohammad is currently in police custody.
This interception follows previous apprehensions of smuggled cigarettes worth over P5 million on December 23 and P3 million on December 24, 2024. JPC, JARN
