By Sonya Delgado
A closed van posing as a J&T Express courier truck carrying smuggled cigarettes worth P9.681 million was apprehended at a Task Force Davao (TFD) checkpoint in Sirawan, Davao City Thursday morning.
Police reports say that a text message from a concerned citizen was sent on January 14, 2025 to the TFD in Sirawan informing them that a closed van with plate number CCK 3653 would be passing through the check point carrying smuggled cigarettes.
At about 9:55 a.m. on Thursday a Mitsubishi Fuso truck with the exact plate number driven by an alias Carlito, 37, years old, and a resident of Brgy. Lourdes, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental was flagged down by the TFD personnel.
The authorities contacted J&T Express after the driver was not able to provide the proper cargo manifest and company identification.
He later confessed that he was transporting smuggled cigarettes.
The Bureau of Customs also checked the truck and its cargo and was able to verify that it was carrying smuggled cigarettes.
Upon checking it was determined that the truck was carrying 251 boxes or 12,550 reams of Modern (red) cigarettes with market value of P9,861,790.00.
A case for violation of RA 10863 is being prepared against the suspect.