Photo courtesy of Philippine National Police/Facebook.
Authorities seized smuggled cigarettes valued at more than Php 16 million and arrested two individuals during a maritime patrol off Sta. Cruz Island in Zamboanga City late Monday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.
The interception took place at around 11:10 p.m. on February 16, 2026, when joint police units were conducting seaborne patrol operations in the area’s territorial waters.
Operatives from the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company, along with personnel from the Regional Maritime Unit 9, Regional Intelligence Division 9, 904th Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, and Zamboanga City Police Station 11, participated in the operation.
Police reported that a green and white motorized boat marked “Chevrolet,” manned by two Filipino crew members, was initially intercepted during the patrol.
A follow-up inspection in the vicinity led to the discovery of another motorized boat, marked “Totoh Aice,” which had been abandoned and was also loaded with suspected smuggled cigarettes.
Authorities recovered a total of 280 master cases of cigarettes believed to be part of illegal shipments, with an estimated market value of Php 16,044,000.
The confiscated goods and the two vessels were turned over to the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Zamboanga for proper disposition, while the arrested individuals were brought to Zamboanga City Police Station 11 for documentation and legal processing.
