Smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga, Lanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes valued at P234.3 million  have been seized in the waters off Olutanga town in Zamboanga Sibugay, according to the Naval Command Western Mindanao (NCWM).

Meanwhile, in Lanao del Norte, police seized two shipments of illegal cigarettes worth P860,000 in separate operations over the weekend.

The contraband seized in Zamboanga Sibugay was loaded in a Malaysian-styled boat or junkong that was intercepted near Lutangan Island.

NCWM chief Rear Adm. Constancio Arturo Reyes said that members of the Philippine Navy found 1,436 master cases and 55 reams of foreign-branded cigarettes in the boat.

The Navy personnel arrested the crewmembers for failing to present documents for their cargo.

Reyes described the seizure as a major blow to cigarette smuggling activities in Western Mindanao.

In Lanao del Norte, the first shipment valued at P660,000 was found in a truck that was intercepted in Iligan City.

The second, worth P200,000, was in a multicab that was pulled over at a checkpoint  in Pantar town.

The drivers failed to show documents for their cargos.

The illegal items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.— Gerry Lee Gorit