KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat — Joint law enforcement personnel seized 2,674 reams of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at more than ₱2.28 million during a seaborne patrol off Kalamansig Wharf on October 27, 2026, following intelligence reports about a possibly abandoned motorized boat carrying illicit tobacco products.
The operation involved personnel from the Kalamansig Municipal Police Station (MPS), Provincial Intelligence Unit, and 2nd Sultan Kudarat Provincial Mobile Force Company, working alongside the Southern Mindanao Coast Guard Station, Kalamansig Maritime Law Enforcement Team, and Tracker Team Delta of the Regional Intelligence Division 12.
Authorities launched the maritime patrol after receiving information about an allegedly abandoned motorized banca suspected of transporting smuggled cigarettes. Upon locating the unregistered and unmarked vessel, the joint team discovered several boxes of cigarettes in plain view aboard the boat.
The recovered shipment consisted of Cannon Menthol and Victor Agila cigarettes, with a total estimated value of ₱2,288,088.22 based on the Bureau of Customs’ standard pricing.
The seized tobacco products were transported to the Kalamansig MPS for documentation and appropriate disposition.
No person was found aboard the vessel during the operation, and no individual came forward to claim ownership of either the boat or its cargo. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the origin and intended destination of the shipment, establish the circumstances surrounding its abandonment, and identify those responsible for its transport.
The seizure highlights the continuing enforcement challenges posed by suspected illicit trade through coastal and maritime routes, where vessels may be used to move goods outside established regulatory and customs procedures.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) emphasized the importance of timely intelligence, field verification, and interagency coordination in detecting and intercepting suspected illegal shipments before they can reach their intended destinations.
The operation supports the PNP Focused Agenda, particularly the Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO), which promotes responsive, coordinated, and intelligence-guided law enforcement.
It also complements broader government efforts to strengthen border and maritime monitoring, uphold lawful commercial activity, and prevent illicit trade from undermining legitimate businesses and public revenue.
Authorities have yet to identify the individuals behind the shipment. Further investigation is expected to establish who owned the vessel and cigarettes and whether the cargo was intended for distribution within Sultan Kudarat or elsewhere.