P3.5 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P3.5 million have been seized in a series of police operations, which also resulted in the arrest of five suspects in Zamboanga peninsula, authorities said yesterday.

The operations in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay netted 61 master cases of cigarettes with a total value of P3.49 million, according to Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Zamboanga peninsula police director.

The latest operation conducted last Sunday resulted in the seizure of 45 master cases of cigarettes valued at P1.38 million as well as a motorized boat and the arrest of its two crewmembers in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.

On the same day, police pulled over a van loaded with 16 master cases of cigarettes with an estimated market value of P916,800 in Barangay Romarate in Aurora town.

On Saturday, a light truck loaded with 21 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P1.2 million was intercepted in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay.