The Philippine Navy's Forces Command in Davao Occidental seized nearly P12 million worth of cigarettes Southwest of Balut Island, Sarangani.

Based on a report released by the PN's Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao on Saturday, an Indonesian motorized watercraft (KM PEJUANG DEVISA 2) carrying the smuggled cigarettes was traversing the Balut Island last 14 September, when it was intercepted by BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) while on a maritime patrol.

Navy personnel aboard BRP Artemio Ricarte immediately inspected the watercraft and found out there were a total of 296 master cases of illicit cigarettes, amounting to an estimated P11,840,000.

Also apprehended were two onboard Filipino crew and two Indonesian nationals with no legal travel documents.

Commodore Carlos Sabbare, the NFEM commander, said the vessel along with its crew was brought to Naval Station Felix Apolinario for health inspection and custodial debriefing.

Further, the confiscated items and apprehended individuals will be turned over for proper disposition by the concerned agencies in the Davao Region.