JOLO, Sulu — Police operatives from the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) confiscated ₱573,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a checkpoint operation along the road of Kasulutan Village, Barangay Bus-Bus here on Tuesday afternoon, January 20, 2026.
According to PRO-9 Regional Director Edwin A. Quilates, the seizure was made after police noticed a suspicious vehicle parked a few meters away from the checkpoint at around 4:14 p.m., causing traffic congestion in the area. The driver was reportedly seen abandoning the vehicle and leaving it unattended.
Upon inspection and verification, police discovered that the vehicle was loaded with boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes. Authorities immediately conducted efforts to locate the owner or driver to establish the legality of the cargo, but no individual came forward to claim ownership.
The operating personnel from the Jolo Municipal Police Station seized the abandoned vehicle along with eight boxes of Bravo cigarettes and two boxes of New Berlin cigarettes. The total estimated value of the contraband amounted to ₱573,000.
Following proper documentation, the confiscated cigarettes and the vehicle were brought to the Jolo MPS and placed under temporary police custody. These will later be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition and further investigation.
Quilates underscored that sustained checkpoint operations are vital in curbing smuggling and other transnational crimes, stressing that law enforcement units in the Zamboanga Peninsula will remain vigilant and proactive in protecting the economy and ensuring public safety.
PRO-9 reiterated its commitment to intensifying anti-smuggling efforts and strengthening inter-agency coordination in support of national security and the rule of law.