TUKURAN, Zamboanga del Sur — Authorities intercepted more than ₱2 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes and arrested three individuals during a joint seaborne patrol operation conducted before dawn on Friday, May 22, 2026, off the coastal waters of Barangay Sugod in Tukuran town.
The operation was spearheaded by the Zamboanga del Sur Maritime Police Station under the supervision of PLT Mardizon H. Perie, officer-in-charge of ZDS MARPSTA, in coordination with the 902nd Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Zamboanga Sibugay Police Intelligence Unit, and Tukuran Municipal Police Station.
Police said the seaborne patrol operation was launched at approximately 3:15 a.m. as part of the intensified campaign against smuggling and other illegal maritime activities in the province.
During the operation, law enforcement personnel intercepted a motorized boat locally known as “Tinanggo” or “Subang-Subang” loaded with boxes of suspected illicit cigarettes. Authorities discovered that the cigarette products lacked the mandatory Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps and graphic health warning labels, which are required under Philippine laws regulating tobacco products.
Arrested during the operation were two 29-year-old men and a 41-year-old man, all residents of Lanao del Sur. Their identities were withheld pending the filing of appropriate charges.
Confiscated from the suspects were 1,750 reams of Astro brand cigarettes with an estimated market value of ₱2,005,500. Also seized were the motorized boat used in the transport operation and two SUMO 19-horsepower engines, which authorities said bore altered serial numbers.
The suspects and all confiscated evidence were brought to the Zamboanga del Sur Maritime Police Station for proper documentation, investigation, and the filing of corresponding criminal charges.
Authorities are currently determining the origin and intended destination of the smuggled cigarettes, as well as possible links to larger smuggling networks operating in western Mindanao.
In a statement, the ZDS MARPSTA emphasized its continuing commitment to intensifying maritime patrols and suppressing illegal trading activities in coastal communities.
“ZDS MARPSTA remains steadfast in its commitment to intensifying maritime patrol operations and strengthening the campaign against smuggling and all forms of illegal activities within our maritime jurisdiction. We urge the public to continue supporting law enforcement efforts in preserving peace, order, and lawful trade in our coastal communities,” the station said.
The seizure underscores the government’s continuing crackdown on illicit tobacco trade, which authorities say deprives the government of millions of pesos in tax revenues and fuels illegal economic activities across maritime borders in Mindanao.