The Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao apprehended a motor boat carrying an estimated ₱44 million worth of undocumented cigarettes during a routine maritime patrol off the coast of Davao de Oro on Jan. 15, 2026.
According to the Navy, personnel aboard BA491 of the 3rd Boat Attack Division, operating under Naval Task Force 71, monitored a suspicious motor boat at around 7:40 p.m. using a Mini-Typhoon MGS camera. The vessel was spotted about three nautical miles northwest of Pantukan, Davao de Oro, with cargo covered in canvas.
The motor boat was intercepted and identified as M/B QAISAR, with 13 Filipino crew members on board. A subsequent inspection revealed 1,118 boxes of undocumented cigarettes aboard the vessel.
Authorities said the shipment violated Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, in relation to Executive Order No. 245, which governs the exportation and importation of leaf tobacco and tobacco products.
During questioning, the vessel’s master disclosed that the cigarettes originated from Jolo, Sulu. He said the cargo was intended to be transferred to smaller motor bancas for distribution to nearby municipalities.
Naval Special Operations Unit 7 later assisted in the operation by placing a prize crew on M/B QAISAR and escorting it, along with BA491, to the Coast Fleet Panacan facility of the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City.
Upon arrival, the crew members were brought to Camp Panacan Station Hospital for medical checkups. Personnel from the Bureau of Internal Revenue Revenue Region 19 conducted an inspection and facilitated the unloading of the contraband.
The seized motor boat and undocumented cigarettes were formally turned over to the BIR in accordance with standard procedures.
