P15.8-M smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Combined personnel from various police units in Region 9 seized P15.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a seaborne anti-smuggling operation a few miles off Manalipa Island in Zamboanga City on Friday night, November 7.

Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, director of the Police Regional Office-9, told reporters on Sunday, November 9, that the 226 large boxes of Indonesian-made cigarettes seized during the operation are now in police custody and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.

A wooden boat carrying the cigarettes was supposed to deliver them to buyers on Manalipa Island and nearby beachfront areas in Zamboanga City but was intercepted by personnel from the Zamboanga City Maritime Police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-9, and other units under Matta’s command.

“We are thankful to the tipsters who provided information about the planned delivery of the smuggled cigarettes to certain areas under our jurisdiction,” Matta said.

Aside from the P15.8 million worth of cigarettes, the composite police team also found two unlicensed caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles inside the captain’s cabin.

Matta said the crew of the intercepted boat—now towed to a seaside police detachment—are detained and undergoing interrogation.

They have reportedly pledged to help identify the traders behind the foiled smuggling attempt.