PARANG, Sulu — Authorities scored another major victory in the campaign against smuggling after law enforcement personnel seized nearly ₱4 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from an abandoned motorized watercraft in the municipality of Parang, Sulu, in the early hours of June 22, 2026.
The operation, carried out by personnel of the Parang Municipal Police Station (MPS) under the supervision of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9), resulted in the confiscation of an estimated ₱3.94 million worth of contraband tobacco products, further intensifying government efforts to curb illegal trade in the region.
According to a report, police officers were conducting a routine mobile patrol at around 1:25 a.m. in Sitio Luas Pier, Barangay Laum Suwah, when they noticed several boxes of cigarettes stacked beside an abandoned blue motorized watercraft locally known as a “jungkong.”
Suspicious of the unattended cargo, the responding officers immediately conducted a thorough inspection of the vessel. Their examination revealed that the jungkong was loaded with various brands of cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into the area.
Authorities swiftly secured the site and launched an initial investigation to identify the owner of the vessel and determine the legality of the shipment. However, no individual came forward to claim ownership of either the watercraft or its cargo despite efforts to locate the responsible parties.
As a result, the vessel and its contents were declared abandoned and subsequently confiscated by authorities.
Contraband Valued at Nearly ₱4 Million
The inventory of the seized goods showed a substantial volume of illicit tobacco products, including:
- 30 boxes of New Castle Red valued at ₱1,110,000;
- 21 boxes of New Castle White worth ₱777,000;
- 40 boxes of Hero Red with an estimated value of ₱1,480,000; and
- 10 boxes of Cannon Menthol valued at ₱570,000.
In total, authorities recovered 101 boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes with a combined estimated value of ₱3,937,000.
Following proper documentation and inventory procedures, the confiscated cigarettes and the abandoned watercraft were transported to the Parang MPS headquarters for temporary custody.
Police officials said the seized items are expected to be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for appropriate disposition and further investigation into their origin, intended destination, and possible links to smuggling syndicates operating in the southern Philippines.
PRO 9 Commends Alert Operatives
Police Brigadier General Dennis A. Esguerra, Acting Regional Director of PRO 9, lauded the vigilance and dedication of the police personnel whose alertness led to the discovery and seizure of the contraband shipment.
Esguerra emphasized that the successful operation demonstrates PRO 9’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country’s borders and disrupting criminal networks involved in smuggling and other illicit activities that undermine the economy and threaten national security.
“The confiscation of these smuggled goods highlights the importance of sustained law enforcement operations and inter-agency cooperation in protecting legitimate trade and preventing illegal products from entering the market,” Esguerra said.
He further stressed that PRO 9 will continue strengthening law enforcement efforts and coordination with partner agencies to combat smuggling and maintain peace and order throughout the region.
Intensified Campaign Against Illegal Trade
The latest seizure adds to a series of anti-smuggling operations being conducted across Western Mindanao, a region that has long been vulnerable to the entry of illegal goods through maritime routes due to its proximity to international waters and neighboring countries.
Authorities noted that cigarette smuggling not only deprives the government of billions of pesos in tax revenues but also fuels the operations of organized criminal groups involved in illegal trade.
PRO 9 reiterated its commitment to intensifying its campaign against smuggling, illicit commerce, and other forms of criminality in line with the Philippine National Police’s thrust of “Sa Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”
Police officials assured the public that operations against smuggling syndicates will continue as part of broader efforts to promote a safer, more orderly, and economically secure Region 9.