GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Authorities intercepted alleged smuggled cigarettes concealed inside unattended baggage aboard a passenger ferry traveling from Balut Island, Davao Occidental to General Santos City, in a successful anti-smuggling operation conducted by Sea Marshals and law enforcement units.
According to reports, duty Sea Marshals were conducting routine inspections onboard MV Rock Island Ferry on May 27, 2026, when they discovered suspicious unattended baggage believed to contain contraband cigarettes.
The vessel was en route from Balut Island, Davao Occidental to Makar Wharf in General Santos City when the discovery was made. Sea Marshals immediately secured the baggage and placed it under close monitoring while attempting to identify its possible owner.
Upon the ferry’s arrival at Makar Wharf on May 28, authorities conducted a joint inventory together with personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies.
The inspection revealed a total of eighty (80) reams of Canon cigarettes and forty-one (41) reams of Gaja Baru cigarettes allegedly transported without proper documentation and suspected to be part of illegal smuggling activities.
Authorities immediately confiscated the items and turned them over to the appropriate Coast Guard unit for proper disposition and further investigation to determine the source of the shipment and identify individuals responsible for the illegal transport.
Officials emphasized that the operation demonstrates the continuing efforts of the Philippine Coast Guard and partner agencies in strengthening maritime security and combating smuggling activities in Philippine waters.
The seizure also highlights the importance of intensified inspections in ports and passenger vessels, particularly in routes frequently exploited for the illegal transport of untaxed and undocumented goods.
Investigations are ongoing to establish possible violations of customs and tax laws and to trace the origin and intended distribution of the confiscated cigarettes.