Troops of the 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB), with support from partner agencies, confiscated approximately P105.9 million worth of contraband during separate law enforcement operations on Monday, June 29, 2026, in Zamboanga del Sur province, the military reported on Tuesday, June 30.
Details of the Seizures
A total of 671 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes were seized in two operations. In White Beach village, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur, authorities recovered 611 master cases. An additional 60 master cases were seized in Punta Flecha village, Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur, where three individuals were arrested.
The operation in White Beach also led to the confiscation of a wing-van truck, one motorboat, and five indigenous boats known locally as “bote-bote,” which were used to transport the smuggled cigarettes.
Coordination and Turnover
The joint anti-smuggling operations were conducted in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Pagadian City and Pitogo police forces, and the Police Maritime Group. All confiscated items and recovered assets were turned over to the BOC in Pagadian City for proper disposition.
The 53IB emphasized that the combined estimated market value of the seized cigarettes exceeded P105.9 million, marking a significant blow to smuggling activities in the region.
