Over PHP1.2 Million in Smuggled Cigarettes Confiscated in Tawi-Tawi

MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE — Police forces in Tawi-Tawi intercepted smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately PHP1.2 million this past weekend, as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal trade in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), the operation was executed following a tip-off about suspicious activities. A team from the Provincial Police Mobile Force Company located the contraband in a motorized boat at the coastal area of Barangay Lamion. “The police rushed to the village at 7 p.m. following a tip that the boxes of cigarettes were being transferred to a small warehouse nearby,” Tanggawohn explained. However, the warehouse owner and workers had fled by the time authorities arrived.

During the operation, law enforcement officers seized eighty-five master cases and 163 reams of various brands of cigarettes, collectively valued at PHP1,236,160. The count and assessment were conducted in the presence of two barangay officials to ensure transparency. Subsequently, the seized goods were handed over to the provincial Bureau of Customs office for appropriate actions and disposal.

This latest seizure is part of a broader crackdown on the smuggling of cigarettes in Tawi-Tawi, with around PHP50 million worth of smuggled cigarettes captured since the beginning of the year, highlighting the significant challenge the region faces with illicit trade activities.