MALUSO, BASILAN — Authorities intercepted a shipment of smuggled cigarettes and arrested two individuals in a decisive anti-smuggling operation conducted by the Maluso Municipal Police Station (MMPS) on December 29, 2025, in Barangay Lower Portholland.
Police said the operation stemmed from intelligence monitoring on the flow of illicit goods into Basilan, a known entry point for contraband products. Officers seized fifteen (15) boxes of BOSQU Filter Kings cigarettes—equivalent to 750 reams—with an estimated market value of ₱588,750, along with a Suzuki mini van used to transport the illegal items.
The confiscated cigarettes were turned over to the Provincial Customs Office for proper disposition. Formal charges are now being prepared against the suspects for alleged violations of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act 10643, which mandates graphic health warnings on tobacco products.
PBGen. Jaysen C. De Guzman, Regional Director, praised the Maluso police for their vigilance and tight coordination with enforcement partners in combating illegal trade. He emphasized that such efforts are vital in protecting the economy and safeguarding public welfare.
The Basilan Police Provincial Office vowed to further strengthen its campaign against smuggling and other forms of criminal activity, stressing that those who continue to engage in illicit operations will be held accountable under the law.