Authorities dug up bundles of suspected smuggled cigarettes buried in a private lot in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Authorities discovered the items during a police operation together with personnel from the Bureau of Customs at a warehouse in Barangay Gumagadong.

No one was arrested during the operation.

“Matagal to nilang minanmanan itong area na ito. Yun nga, base sa nakalap na information, meron ngang tinatagong smuggled cigarettes, so nagkaroon ng operation at nadiskubre nga nila itong warehouse na naglalaman ng mga smuggled na cigarettes.  Merong ginagawang paghuhukay,” Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, said.

PRO-BAR said the initial value of the first boxes of cigarettes recovered is estimated at P41 million, with the amount expected to increase as inventory continues.

Authorities are still investigating why the cigarettes were buried.

Meanwhile, authorities also seized around 332 boxes of alleged smuggled cigarettes worth around more than P21 million from a boat in the waters off Barangay Manalipa Island, Zamboanga City.

Three crew members were arrested after they failed to present documents for the cargo.

They will face charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863).