CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Police in Northern Mindanao intercepted around P480,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested three suspects in separate operations in Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte on Wednesday.

Police regional director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said personnel of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), together with the Ozamiz City Police Station and the Philippine Coast Guard, conducted inspections at the Ozamiz City Seaport in Barangay Baybay Triunfo.

During routine X-ray screening, authorities intercepted alias “Mali,” 37, a tricycle driver from Tangkal, Lanao del Norte, who was transporting smuggled cigarettes from Munai to Ozamiz City for shipment to Cebu.

Recovered from him were 150 reams of assorted cigarette brands — New Berlin, New Far and Cannon Menthol — worth about P120,000. The confiscated items were brought to the 2nd PMFC and will be turned over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Ozamiz City.

In a separate operation, personnel of the 4th Platoon, 2nd PMFC in Lanao del Norte conducted a checkpoint in Barangay Bansarvil 1, Kapatagan. Officers flagged down a sedan driven by alias “Sai,” 44, with passenger alias “Ali,” 34.

During inspection, police noticed the vehicle’s floor matting was raised, revealing a hidden compartment containing a box of smuggled cigarettes. The driver failed to show any legal documents.

Confiscated were 450 reams of cigarettes — five master cases of New Far-Red (250 reams), one master case of Fort White (50 reams), and three master cases of New Berlin Red (150 reams) — valued at around P360,000.

The suspects and the vehicle are now in police custody, while the seized cigarettes will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs in Iligan City for proper disposition.