ZAMBOANGA CITY, November 12, 2026 — Authorities recovered nearly ₱5.94 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes from an abandoned speedboat discovered during a maritime patrol along the coastal waters of Sta. Cruz Island in Barangay Sta. Barbara, Zamboanga City, early Thursday morning.
The recovery was made by personnel of the 904th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9 (RMFB 9), who were conducting seaborne patrol operations at approximately 5:30 a.m. when they spotted an unattended speedboat carrying a large quantity of suspected illegally imported King Bravo White cigarettes.
The discovery prompted authorities to secure the vessel and its cargo for proper documentation and investigation. The circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the speedboat, as well as the identities of those responsible for transporting the cigarettes, were not immediately disclosed.
At around 10:30 a.m., authorities conducted a formal inventory of the recovered items at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) office at the Port of Zamboanga City. The inventory was witnessed by a barangay kagawad of Barangay Sta. Barbara and a media representative.
The inspection accounted for 38 master cases and 25 reams of King Bravo White cigarettes. Some cigarette packages had sustained damage after being exposed to seawater, indicating the possible impact of prolonged exposure to the marine environment.
The Bureau of Customs placed the total assessed customs value of the recovered cigarettes at ₱5,932,449.60.
Following the inventory, both the suspected smuggled cigarettes and the abandoned speedboat were formally turned over to the BOC for proper custody and disposition.
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The recovery forms part of the intensified anti-smuggling campaign of the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO 9), which has been strengthening maritime security operations and monitoring coastal areas across the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Province.
Police Brigadier General Elmer E. Ragay, PRO 9 regional director, said the police regional office would sustain and further intensify its efforts against smuggling and other forms of illegal trade.
He underscored the importance of continuous maritime patrols, stronger intelligence operations, and decisive law enforcement action against individuals and groups involved in the illicit movement and distribution of contraband goods.
The operation also highlights the continuing challenges faced by authorities in securing the region’s extensive coastal areas, which can be exploited by smugglers to transport undocumented goods and evade government regulations.
Beyond the immediate seizure, the recovery represents an effort to disrupt illegal commercial activities that undermine legitimate businesses, deprive the government of potential customs revenues, and weaken the enforcement of trade and importation laws.
PRO 9 said it would continue strengthening its operational presence and strategic partnerships to address smuggling, illegal trade, and other security concerns in the region.
Authorities have yet to disclose whether the recovery has led to the identification of the individuals behind the shipment or the filing of corresponding cases.