BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — Authorities seized an estimated ₱286,500 worth of smuggled cigarettes during a late-night mobile patrol at Lumboy Wharf in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay Nalil, here on January 17, 2026, underscoring intensified efforts to curb illicit trade along the country’s maritime borders.
Personnel of the Tawi-Tawi Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA), acting as the lead unit and working in close coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Sub-Port Bongao and operatives of the Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Office, conducted the patrol at around 7:50 p.m. when they discovered five master cases—approximately 250 reams—of Astro Red cigarettes stashed near the docking area.
Despite immediate efforts, authorities were unable to identify the owner of the contraband, as no individual came forward to claim the items.
Based on BOC assessment, the seized cigarettes were valued at ₱286,500. The items were initially brought to Tawi-Tawi MARPSTA for proper documentation before being turned over to the BOC Sub-Port Bongao for inventory and appropriate disposition for violations of Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Commending the successful operation, PBGEN Jaysen C. De Guzman, Regional Director of PRO BAR, lauded the operating units for their vigilance and effective inter-agency coordination. He emphasized that sustained operations of this nature reflect the police force’s steadfast commitment to combating smuggling, protecting the country’s borders, and safeguarding national economic interests.
Authorities said patrols and joint operations will continue across strategic coastal and port areas in Tawi-Tawi, a known transit point vulnerable to smuggling activities, as part of a broader campaign to disrupt illicit trade networks.