By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

INTERCEPTED. A Navy personnel stands guard on top of a vessel carrying smuggled cigarettes intercepted by the Western Mindanao Naval Command southeast off Matanal Point, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan, on May 15, 2026. The WMNC seized some PHP526.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes within 48 hours in Western Mindanao waters. (Photo courtesy of WMNC)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) has arrested 21 people and seized some PHP526.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate maritime interdiction operations within 48 hours in Western Mindanao waters, it said Monday.

The first maritime interdiction operation occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. on May 13 in the vicinity of Basilan, the WMNC said. The Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Team discovered 2,519 master cases of foreign tobacco products worth an estimated PHP317.3 million aboard M/B Zhyzhy.

“The boat captain along with 13 crew members from Maluso, Basilan, failed to present any pertinent boat documents or cargo certifications,” the WMNC said in its report.

Less than two days later, on May 15, a second vessel, M/B JTK Express, was apprehended carrying an estimated 1,400 master cases of undocumented cigarettes originating from Tawi-Tawi.

The WMNC said the smuggled cigarettes shipment came from Tawi-Tawi and was bound for Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur province.

The apprehended crew members, two watercraft, and the multi-million peso contraband shipments were brought to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, which houses the WMNC headquarters in this city, for safekeeping.
The Philippine Navy (PN) said operations were conducted in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In a message to the Philippine News Agency Monday, the PN said the M/B Zhyzhy has a crew of 14 persons while M/B JTK Express is manned by seven crew members.

All apprehended individuals were informed of their rights and are now facing charges for violations of Republic Act 12022 and other relevant laws on illegal importation.

The confiscated items have been turned over to the BOC at the Port of Zamboanga, for proper disposition.

The PN said these operations show their commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime borders, intensifying efforts against economic sabotage, and ensuring that illegal goods do not pass through the country’s southern backdoor. (With Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)