In a significant crackdown on illicit trade, law enforcement operatives have intercepted smuggled cigarettes valued at over P806,000 and apprehended one individual during separate anti-smuggling operations conducted in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Major Contraband Haul in Basilan
Police Brigadier General Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), confirmed that the bulk of the confiscated goods, worth P588,750, was discovered in Maluso, Basilan, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
During a routine crime prevention and law enforcement operation in Port Holland Zone III village, police personnel located an abandoned motorboat. The vessel was found to be loaded with 15 boxes of assorted smuggled cigarettes. No suspects were present at the scene when the discovery was made.
The confiscated items, along with the motorboat used in the illicit activity, were immediately placed under the custody of the Maluso Municipal Police Station. The authorities are now handling the documentation and proper turnover of the evidence to the Bureau of Customs for final disposition.
Arrest and Seizure in Maguindanao del Sur
In a parallel operation on the same day, police forces successfully arrested an individual known by the alias Ruston, 27, a resident of Guindulongan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The arrest unfolded after Ruston, who was driving a Sports Utility Vehicle, evaded an initial police checkpoint in South Upi. In response, operatives swiftly established a blocking checkpoint at the boundary of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur, and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
Upon inspection, authorities discovered and seized 277 reams of smuggled cigarettes from Ruston's vehicle, with an estimated value of P217,445. A critical element leading to the arrest was Ruston's failure to present any legal transport documents for the goods, constituting a clear violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The suspect and the confiscated cigarettes were subsequently turned over to the Lebak Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and legal proceedings.
Strengthened Anti-Smuggling Efforts
These coordinated operations underscore the intensified campaign by the PRO-BAR against the smuggling of contraband, particularly cigarettes, within the Bangsamoro region. The successful interceptions in both Basilan and Maguindanao del Sur demonstrate a proactive approach to border control and law enforcement, aiming to curb illegal trade that undermines the national economy.
Police Brigadier General De Guzman commended the operatives for their vigilance and reinforced the commitment of the Philippine National Police to support the Bureau of Customs in enforcing customs laws and protecting the country's economic borders.
