THE NAVAL Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) intercepted a motorboat carrying ₱44 million worth of undocumented cigarettes off the coast of Pantukan, Davao de Oro, around 7:40 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15.
The operation was carried out by BA491 of the 3rd Boat Attack Division, which is under the operational control of Naval Task Force 71. Operatives used a Mini-Typhoon MGS camera system to spot a suspicious vessel, later identified as M/B QAISAR , moving three nautical miles northwest of Pantukan.
The camera footage revealed a large cargo covered in canvas, prompting an immediate interception.
Upon boarding the vessel, the Navy discovered 1,118 boxes of undocumented cigarettes. The 13 Filipino crew members onboard were detained.
During the initial investigation, the vessel’s master admitted that the shipment originated from Jolo, Sulu. The plan was to offload the contraband onto smaller motor bancas at sea to be smuggled into various municipalities in Davao de Oro and surrounding areas.
This “mother ship” to “small craft” transfer is a common tactic used by smuggling syndicates to evade detection at major ports, the Navy said.
Following the seizure, the Navy’s Special Operations Unit 7 (NAVSOU7) placed a “prize crew” on the M/B QAISAR to escort it to the Captain Feranil Pier at Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City.
All 13 crew members were brought to Camp Panacan Station Hospital for mandatory medical evaluation before facing a charge for violations of Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and Executive Order No. 245. Meanwhile, the contraband was turned over to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Commodore Ireneo D. Battung, commander of NFEM, said the successful operation underscores the Navy’s commitment to securing the maritime domain and disrupting illegal trade routes that rob the government of needed revenues.
