P15.75-M undocumented cigarettes seized in Mobo, Masbate
— PCG

LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Bicol seized 630 boxes of undocumented cigarettes worth an estimated P15.75 million during a routine inspection at Mobo Port in Masbate.

Commodore Ivan Roldan, PCG District Bicol commander, told the Inquirer in a Viber message on Wednesday that the seizure took place on Tuesday (March 31) as part of “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa & Summer Vacation 2026.”

“The troops, along with their K9 unit, were screening outbound cargoes before vessel embarkation when they found boxes of Titanium Red, 92 boxes of Titanium Blue, 72 boxes of Titanium Green, 15 boxes of Two Moon, and 371 boxes of Mighty Green cigarettes concealed behind garments. Ramon Bello, the truck helper, could not present proper cargo documents,” Roldan said.

READ: BOC seizes P235-M illicit cigarette shipment at Batangas port

The driver of the 10-wheeler wing van truck, owned by Richport Trading and Realty Inc., fled and remains at large.

The confiscated items were marked, secured, and inventoried at the port. Barangay officials Robert D. Oliva and Benjamin E. Intal Jr. witnessed the process.

Bello was turned over to the Mobo police station for investigation. /mcm