DAVAO CITY –— The personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard stationed in Banaybanay town in Davao Oriental seized 51 boxes of smuggled cigarettes on May 13, 2024.
“While the personnel of the Coast Guard were conducting sea patrol at the coastlines of Barangay Maputi, they spotted an abandoned motorized banca and immediately checked on the baggage which turned out to be smuggled cigarettes,” Banaybanay Mayor Ian M. Larcia told Newsline.
During the presentation to the Mayor, the Coast Guard told Larcia that they were tipped off that contraband was downloaded in said area.
Larcia said the Coast Guard recovered 51 boxes containing 2,485 reams of different types of cigarettes which have an estimated market value of 864,000 million.
The Coast Guard turned over the contraband to the PNP which was later turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.
