ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY — Authorities in southern Mindanao scored a major blow against the illegal cigarette trade after an intelligence-driven coastal operation led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of over ₱1.1 million worth of smuggled and illicit cigarettes in Olutanga, police said.
The operation, spearheaded by the Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office (ZSBPPO), was conducted at Purok 1-A, Barangay Solar, Olutanga. Confiscated were 18 master cases and 83 reams of assorted illegal cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱1,126,518, along with a motorized pump boat with triple engines valued at around ₱300,000.
Police identified the arrested suspects as a 28-year-old crew member and a 42-year-old boat operator, both residents of Barangay Looc-Sapi, Olutanga. They were intercepted while allegedly transporting the contraband via sea, underscoring persistent smuggling routes along the province’s coastal areas.
Provincial Director PCOL Barnard Daniev Dasugo praised the operatives for the successful interdiction and reaffirmed the police’s hardline stance against smuggling. “This successful anti-smuggling operation underscores our unwavering commitment to protect our borders and prevent the proliferation of illicit goods that threaten public safety and economic stability,” Dasugo said. He added that ZSBPPO, in close coordination with partner agencies, will continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks operating in coastal communities.
The joint operation was carried out by the ZSBPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit in coordination with the Olutanga Municipal Police Station, the 1st Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Bureau of Customs Zamboanga City Office.
Among the seized brands were Cannon Menthol White, Bingo Full Flavor American Blend, Astro Filter King Color Red, Tradition, and Fort Menthol. The suspects and evidence were brought to the Olutanga Municipal Police Station for documentation and temporary custody before turnover to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate charges.
Police said the seizure highlights sustained enforcement efforts across Zamboanga Sibugay, a province with extensive coastlines that authorities say are frequently exploited by smuggling syndicates.