Authorities intercepted a boat carrying suspected smuggled cigarettes worth ₱43.5 million off the coast of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
The Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) reported that the vessel was spotted during a routine maritime patrol near Barangay Bato. Upon inspection, naval personnel discovered 1,107 cartons of foreign-brand cigarettes without proper documentation.
Twelve Filipino crew members aboard the boat were arrested on-site. Initial investigation revealed that the cigarettes were allegedly loaded in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and were bound for Barangay Bato in Davao del Sur.
The NFEM has taken the crew into custody and secured the seized goods for proper turnover to authorities. The cigarettes will be subjected to official disposition procedures as part of ongoing coordination with other government agencies.
Smuggling of tobacco products remains a persistent issue in Mindanao, particularly along maritime routes used for illegal trade between Indonesia and the Philippines. The Navy said it continues to intensify sea patrols to deter cross-border smuggling and protect the country’s economic and security interests.
