Jolo, Sulu — June 1, 2025 — Law enforcement personnel from the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) intercepted an estimated ₱740,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a routine patrol in Sitio Barrio Militar, Barangay Walled City, Jolo.
According to the Sulu Police Provincial Office, officers from the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS) spotted a suspiciously parked brown Tamaraw FX on the roadside during a mobile patrol. As the patrol approached, the unidentified driver fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, authorities discovered 20 boxes of CANNON cigarettes, each estimated at ₱37,000. Despite immediate follow-up operations, no individual has stepped forward to claim the vehicle or the contraband.
Barangay officials were present during the inventory and marking of the seized items, which have since been transported to the Jolo Municipal Police Station. The cigarettes will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper handling and disposition.
PBGEN Romeo J. Macapaz, Regional Director of PRO BAR, praised the Jolo MPS for their continued vigilance in the fight against smuggling and criminality. He urged residents to remain vigilant and to support ongoing efforts to promote peace and order across Bangsamoro communities.