The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered an estimated ₱5 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes abandoned in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, following a report from a local fisherman.
According to Coast Guard Station Davao Oriental, a member of its Sea Sentinel network alerted authorities at about 11:04 p.m. on Aug. 2 regarding suspicious individuals and abandoned boxes at the boundary of Barangays Nangan and Tagabebe.
A Coast Guard response team was immediately dispatched to verify the report.
At about 1:50 a.m. on Aug. 3, the responding personnel located and recovered 100 boxes of alleged smuggled cigarettes at the reported site.
Authorities estimated the value of the recovered contraband at approximately ₱5 million.
The recovered items are currently undergoing inventory and documentation before being turned over to the appropriate government agency for further investigation and possible legal action.
The Coast Guard has not identified the individuals who allegedly abandoned the boxes, and no arrests have been reported.
The recovery stemmed from information provided by a local fisherman through the Coast Guard’s Sea Sentinel network.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the cigarettes and identify those responsible for the alleged smuggling.
The Coast Guard continues to encourage the public to report suspicious maritime activities to authorities as part of efforts to combat smuggling and other unlawful activities in Philippine waters.
