THE NAVAL Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) intercepted a motorized banca attempting to smuggle an estimated ₱20 million worth of foreign-brand cigarettes off the coast of Davao City on the night of June 7, 2025.
The operation, carried out by the Philippine Navy vessel BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG906) under Naval Task Force 71, led to the apprehension of the M/B Sharefa near Dumoy Point, Talomo.
According to Commodore Constancio Arturo M. Reyes Jr. PN, Commander of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, PG906 was conducting a routine maritime patrol when its Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera detected approximately 20 individuals transferring boxes from a beached vessel to the shoreline.
Upon the approach of the naval unit and issuance of a warning, the individuals fled the scene.
A boarding team from PG906 then conducted a visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operation on the M/B Sharefa. Inside, they discovered approximately 800 master cases of undocumented foreign-brand cigarettes.
Personnel from Naval Special Operations Unit 7 (NAVSOU7) arrived to secure the area and assist in transferring the seized cargo back onto the M/B Sharefa.
The vessel was subsequently towed and escorted to Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City, with NAVSOU7’s assistance.
The following day, June 8, Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel conducted an inspection and offloaded the seized goods.
Additionally, agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office XI, aided by sniffing dogs, conducted a thorough inspection of the cargo for any possible illegal drugs.
Once all necessary documentation was completed, the motorized banca and the apprehended cigarettes were officially turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.
Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Luis Rex Bergante said this successful interception highlights the Philippine Navy’s ongoing efforts to curb smuggling activities and secure maritime borders in Eastern Mindanao.
Photos courtesy of NFEM, EastMinCom
