ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) dealt a significant blow to the illegal tobacco trade in the region after intercepting two vessels carrying thousands of cases of undocumented foreign cigarettes in separate operations conducted within a 48-hour maritime sweep.
Operating under Naval Task Force 61, naval units carried out coordinated patrol and interdiction missions in the waters off Sultan Kudarat and Basilan, resulting in the seizure of thousands of master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes and the apprehension of crew members who allegedly failed to present proper importation documents.
First interception in Sultan Kudarat waters
The first operation took place on February 24 when naval forces intercepted the cargo vessel M/V Sun Voyage near Kalamansig Port in Kalamansig. Authorities said what initially appeared to be a routine maritime transit quickly escalated into a major anti-smuggling operation after naval personnel boarded the vessel for inspection.
During the inspection, authorities discovered approximately 3,000 master cases of imported cigarettes stored inside the vessel’s cargo hold. When questioned, the ship’s master was reportedly unable to present any importation permits, cargo clearance, or other documents that would validate the shipment.
Naval authorities immediately placed the vessel under control, escorted the ship and its crew under security, and transported them to Zamboanga City for proper documentation, investigation, and disposition of the seized cargo.
Reports also indicated that around eight foreign nationals who were part of the vessel’s crew were taken into custody by authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.
Second operation off Basilan
Less than a day after the first interception, naval personnel conducted another successful operation on February 25 in the waters southeast of Sibago Island in Basilan.
According to WMNC, patrol units spotted a motorized banca identified as M/B Skyblue navigating suspiciously in the area. Naval forces moved to intercept the vessel and carried out a boarding inspection.
During the operation, authorities discovered around 460 master cases of undocumented foreign-brand cigarettes onboard. Similar to the earlier incident, the boat captain and crew reportedly failed to present valid shipping or importation documents.
The banca and its cargo were subsequently seized and towed to a secure location for safekeeping and further processing by authorities.
Intensified maritime crackdown
Naval officials emphasized that both operations were carried out in accordance with established maritime law enforcement protocols and form part of an intensified campaign against smuggling activities in Western Mindanao’s coastal and maritime corridors.
The WMNC said the back-to-back seizures underscore the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding maritime borders and curbing illegal trade operations that deprive the government of significant revenue and undermine legitimate businesses.
“The WMNC remains unwavering in its commitment to patrol our maritime borders. We are working closely with partner agencies to ensure that the waters of Western Mindanao will no longer serve as safe passage for those engaged in illegal trade,” the command said in a statement.
Authorities are now preparing the seized cigarettes, vessels, and related evidence for turnover to the appropriate government agencies for final inventory, appraisal, and eventual destruction in accordance with existing laws and procedures.
The latest operations highlight the continued efforts of naval forces to monitor and secure key maritime routes in Mindanao, which authorities say are often exploited by smuggling networks attempting to transport illegal goods across the region’s vast coastal waters.