SAILORS aboard a patrol gunboat have arrested four individuals and seized some P11.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes off Basilan province, the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) said.
The WMNC did not identify the four arrested individuals except to say they are all crew of M/B Jerwina transporting the smuggled cigarettes.
The sailors aboard Patrol Gunboat-906 (BRP-Herminigildo Yurong) were conducting maritime patrol when they intercepted M/B Jerwina around 10:47 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025, approximately 30 nautical miles southeast of Kauluan Island, Basilan.
Upon inspection, the motorboat was found to be loaded with 194 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P11,416,000.
The cargo is believed to have originated from Jolo, Sulu, and was en route to Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, according to the WMNC.
The motorboat and its cargo were brought to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City for proper disposition.
The seized items and crew were turned over to concerned law enforcement agencies for investigation and legal action. (SunStar Zamboanga)