The Philippine Navy seized alleged smuggled cigarettes worth around P43.5 million off the coast of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Personnel of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) launched the operation after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen about a watercraft suspected of conducting illegal activities in the waters of Barangay Bato.

The operating team spotted the boat and conducted a visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operation after the crew members failed to respond to the radio challenge initiated by the responding naval assets.

During inspection, authorities found that the boat was owned by a resident of Lantawan, Basilan and manned by 12 crew members.

Up to 1,107 boxes of foreign-brand cigarettes were discovered on board without proper documentation, constituting a violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863) in relation to Executive Order No. 245, which governs the exportation and importation of tobacco products.

NFEM said one of the crew members reportedly admitted that the items originated from North Sulawesi, Indonesia and were bound for Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Upon arrival at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City, personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) unloaded the alleged smuggled cigarettes and took custody of the items for investigation.