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The Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Navy foiled a maritime cigarette smuggling attempt in the Celebes Sea on February 24, 2026
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Intercepted was a vessel carrying about 3,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes valued at about P180 million
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The operation stemmed from BOC intelligence on suspicious at-sea cargo transfers
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The vessel was apprehended 52 nautical miles west of Kalamansig Port, Sultan Kudarat
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Seized cargo had no supporting importation documents; foreign crew could not establish legitimacy
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Vessel escorted to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon for inventory and documentation
The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in coordination with the Philippine Navy, intercepted a vessel carrying an estimated P180 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes in the Celebes Sea on February 24, 2026.
The operation was launched following actionable intelligence indicating suspicious movements of a bulk carrier allegedly engaged in at-sea cargo transfers, the BOC said in a news release.
The reported irregular maneuvers prompted heightened surveillance and coordination with the Department of National Defense and the Navy’s Western Mindanao Naval Command, led by Rear Admiral Constancio Arturo Reyes.
Authorities later identified and apprehended the vessel approximately 52 nautical miles west of Kalamansig Port in Sultan Kudarat. Boarding and inspection operations uncovered around 3,000 master cases of cigarettes without supporting documents to establish lawful importation. The vessel’s foreign crew was unable to verify the shipment’s legitimacy.
Following confirmation of the suspected illicit goods, the apprehending team initiated procedures for a possible violation of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
READ: BOC seizes P200M illicit cigarette plant assets in Cavite
The vessel was subsequently escorted to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon under the Western Mindanao Naval Command, arriving on February 25 for formal inventory and documentation.
Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno underscored the agency’s continued crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade.
“The BOC has been consistent and unwavering in its fight against the illegal sale, manufacture, and distribution of illicit cigarettes. We will continue to intensify our operations, not only because they fall under our mandate, but also as a clear warning: our country has no room for these unlawful activities,” he said.
“We will not allow illicit trade to infiltrate our borders at the expense of the welfare of the Filipino people and legitimate businesses,” he added.
