The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to destroy more than P156 million worth of illicit cigarettes seized in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to prevent them from being recycled or sold.

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno inspected the items confiscated for lack of proper documents, which are currently stored at a BOC warehouse in Davao City.

These cigarettes were seized during separate operations conducted on January 6 and April 3, 2026 in Parang and Datu Odin Sinsuat towns in Maguindanao del Norte and Datu.

Authorities are still investigating the individuals behind the smuggling.

The items will undergo laboratory testing to determine their contents aside from tobacco.

“Delikado ito sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan. Di natin alam kung paano ginawa ang mga sigarilyo na ‘to dahil ibat-iba ang tatak nito. Pumasok ito hindi sa international ports at hindi pa natin alam eksakto kung sino ang gumawa ng sigarilyo na to,” Nepomuceno said.

Nepomuceno stressed that the government is losing significant revenue due to cigarette smuggling.

“Ang nawawala sa kaban ng bayan sa mga illegal na sigarilyo ay hindi bababa sa 30 billion pesos in terms of taxes yong mga pera sana na yan ay magagamit ng ating bansa ng ating pamahalaan para sa programa para sa ating kababayan,” Nepomuceno added.

Authorities said smuggling illegal cigarettes is a violation of the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act (RA 12022) and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863).

Nepomuceno reported that BOC has launched up to 147 operations across the country against illegal cigarettes, which have a total estimated value of more than P30 billion.

He added that border security is being intensified in coordination with other agencies to prevent contraband from slipping through.

“Pinapatatag pa namin ‘yong satellite imaging capabilities. Dinadagdagan sa loob ng BOC at aming mismong kakayahan na magkaroon ng sea assets. Hihingi kami ng tulong sa kongreso upang magkaroon kami ng sariling kapabilidad na magkaroon ng interdiction o operation sa dagat,” Nepomuceno said.