Pandami, Sulu – September 24, 2024 – Authorities seized more than Php400,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes during a response operation along the shoreline of Barangay Siganggang, Pandami, Sulu, on Monday.
Personnel from the Pandami Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Sulu Provincial Police Office, successfully recovered 12 abandoned boxes of Canon cigarettes, concealed beneath a tree and covered with a tarpaulin. The total value of the confiscated goods is estimated at Php444,000, with each box valued at Php37,000.
The operation was launched following intelligence reports that alerted authorities to suspicious activities in the area. Upon verification, they discovered the illicit contraband, preventing it from reaching the local market.
Local police, in collaboration with barangay officials, inventoried and marked the confiscated goods. The cigarettes have since been transported to the Pandami MPS for proper documentation and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for appropriate disposition.
Pandami MPS has launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the smuggling operation and is working to prevent similar activities in the future.
Regional Director PBGEN Prexy D. Tangawohn praised the swift action of the operating units, commending their commitment to curbing illegal activities that harm both the local economy and public health.
“This seizure demonstrates the dedication of our law enforcement to stopping the proliferation of smuggled goods, which not only evade taxation but also pose risks to the well-being of our people,” Tangawohn said.
