Four individuals were arrested and approximately P21.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized during a maritime law enforcement operation on Friday, July 3, 2026, in the municipal waters of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay province, according to the Zamboanga Sibugay Maritime Police Station (ZS MARPSTA).
Arrests and Seizure Details
The ZS MARPSTA, which did not release the identities of the arrested individuals except to say they are all adult Filipino males, reported that the operation was conducted in coordination with local police and other law enforcement agencies following a tip about the alleged transport of contraband by sea.
During the operation, authorities intercepted a motorboat carrying four people and a significant volume of cigarettes. The four individuals were arrested after failing to present documents proving the lawful transport and possession of the cargo.
Confiscated Contraband
The ZS MARPSTA said that 375 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes were seized, with an estimated value of P21.49 million. The arrested individuals and the confiscated contraband are currently in the custody of the ZS MARPSTA pending the filing of appropriate charges.
