BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — Police authorities seized hundreds of thousands of pesos worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes in a late-night operation at the Chinese Pier in Barangay Poblacion, Bongao, on November 20, 2025.
Personnel from the Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Office, who were conducting a mobile patrol at around 9:20 PM, discovered 11 master cases—equivalent to 550 reams—of suspected smuggled cigarettes left unattended near the docking area. No individual surfaced to claim ownership of the items, prompting police to confiscate the goods for violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The seized cigarettes were brought to the Tawi-Tawi MARPSTA for documentation and later turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Sub-Port of Bongao for proper disposition.
A manhunt has been launched by the Bongao Municipal Police Station to identify and arrest those behind the smuggling attempt.
According to the Bureau of Customs, the confiscated items have an estimated market value of ₱423,750, broken down as follows:
- 8 cases (400 reams) – Astro Red
- 2 cases (100 reams) – Manok Red
- 1 case (50 reams) – Dream On White
PRO BAR regional director PBGEN Jaysen C. De Guzman lauded the operation, stressing that the police force remains firm in combating smuggling activities and safeguarding the region’s maritime borders.
“This successful operation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting lawful trade and ensuring that violators face the consequences of their actions,” De Guzman said.
Authorities continue to intensify monitoring across critical entry points in Tawi-Tawi, a known smuggling hotspot due to its proximity to international borders.