The Philippine Navy seized boxes of undocumented tobacco products worth around P398 million from a vessel in the waters off Tawi-Tawi.

Members of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), 2nd Marine Brigade, and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) launched the operation after receiving a report that illegal drugs and other contraband will be in transit in the waters under the area of operations of NFWM in early February.

During the operation, a suspicious cargo vessel with 10 Indonesian national on board was intercepted.

"PG901's boarding team immediately conducted a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operation and during the course of inspection, it was determined that the vessel's crew were composed of 10 Indonesian nationals. Likewise, a rough estimate of thousands of boxes of undocumented cigarette products were found exposed at the vessel's cargo hold," NFWM said in a post. 

The vessel was then escorted to the Bongao Port where Customs and PDEA personnel inspected all its compartments and spaces. 

Based on the inventory conducted, the boxes confiscated contained a total of 5,227 master cases and 289 reams of undocumented cigarettes, and 861 boxes of undocumented tobacco fillers worth over P398 million.

The NFWM has already sent a letter to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Manila requesting for the proper deportation of the foreign crew members.

“We will continue our support to other law enforcement agencies as we perform our mandate of securing and protecting the country’s maritime interests against transnational perpetrators. All these we do in support to the accomplishment of the WesMinCom’s mission,” NFWM Commander, RADM Donn Anthony Miraflor, said.