Jolo, Sulu – Authorities seized 30 boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes in a roadside interception in Barangay Asturias, Jolo, on the afternoon of February 25, 2026.
At approximately 5:45 PM, personnel from the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS), led by PLTCOL Annidul M. Sali, Chief of Police, were conducting a preventive mobile patrol along Sitio 477 when they discovered an abandoned white Tamaraw FX vehicle parked along the roadside. Upon inspection, officers found the vehicle loaded with boxes of suspected contraband cigarettes.
The seized items were carefully documented and transported to the Jolo MPS for temporary custody. Authorities confirmed that the confiscated goods will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for proper disposition and further investigation into the source and intended distribution of the smuggled cigarettes.
PLTCOL Sali emphasized that the seizure highlights the police station’s ongoing efforts to curb smuggling activities and enforce law and order in Jolo. “We remain vigilant against illegal trade and other criminal activities that undermine the economy and public safety,” Sali stated.
The Jolo MPS assured the public that operations targeting smuggling and other illicit activities will continue, and encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities to authorities.
No arrests have been reported in connection with the seized cigarettes as of this writing. Investigation into the abandoned vehicle and the origin of the contraband is ongoing.