ZAMBOANGA CITY: Philippine authorities seized over P398 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from a cargo ship off the southern province of Tawi-Tawi near Sabah in Malaysia.

Security forces intercepted the vessel, M/V Samson, manned by 10 Indonesian crew members, on February 1, but was only reported on Thursday, February 22, for unknown reasons.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command said the cargo ship was loaded with over 10,000 boxes of cigarettes when security forces intercepted and searched the vessel for contraband and narcotics.

It said the operation involved the military and multiple law enforcement agencies after the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) raised suspicion the vessel was transporting prohibited goods.

The NCWC, established in September 2011, serves as the national maritime point of contact for maritime security coordination and operations. The Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, the PNP-Maritime Group, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Customs, the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are among its support agencies.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command said the seized items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs here on February 10 and on February 14. The Staff Judge Advocate coordinated with the local Public Attorney's Office to make proper legal representation for the Indonesian national crewmen in preparation for their deportation.

On February 19, the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command sent an official letter requesting the Bureau of Immigration in Manila for the proper deportation of the Indonesians.

And as in the past similar operations, authorities did not say who owns the contraband, where it originated and who is its consignee.