P13.2 million cigarettes seized in Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Cigarettes with a combined value of P13.2 million have been seized in separate anti-smuggling operations in this city and in Sulu, officials reported yesterday.

Intelligence operatives of the Zamboanga regional police and the Bureau of Customs on Sunday pulled over a van loaded with 45 master cases of cigarettes worth P2.6 million in Barangay San Roque.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the van driver, who failed to present documents for his cargo, according to Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Zamboanga peninsula police director.

On June 21, authorities seized P10.6 million worth of smuggled cigarettes following a raid on a warehouse in Indanan, Sulu.

A worker was arrested while his companions escaped duringg the raid in Barangay Kajatian.

The raiding team recovered from the warehouse 297 master cases of assorted brands of imported cigarettes.