P5.7 million smuggled cigarettes seized from distressed boat

 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A seaborne police unit seized smuggled cigarettes worth P5.7 million from a distressed motorized boat in the waters off this city on Wednesday night.

Members of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company were patroling near Manalipa Island when they spotted a Malaysian-style boat locally known as jungkong at around 12:25 p.m.

The boat was listing and about to capsize due to rough sea conditions.

The team was preparing to rescue, but  the crewmembers jumped overboard and swam in different directions, according to Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, Zamboanga peninsula police director.

The team towed the boat to the headquarters of the mobile force, where they discovered it was loaded with 100 master cases of smuggled cigarettes in assorted brands.

Masauding said the confiscated items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.

He lauded the team for continuously protecting the coastal waters of Zamboanga from smugglers and other criminal elements.