SMUGGLED CIGARETTES. A Customs officer conducts inventory of seized smuggled cigarettes at the compound of the PNP Maritime Group in Barangay Baliwasan in Zamboanga City on Wednesday (June 9, 2021). The cigarettes worth PHP6.3 million were loaded in a motorboat that was intercepted during in a seaborne patrol by a joint team of police and Customs officers off Sta. Cruz Island. (Photo courtesy of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A joint team of police and Bureau of Customs (BOC) officers have intercepted a shipment of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP6.3 million and arrested four persons off this city.
The 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company (2ZCMFC) reported on Thursday that the shipment of smuggled cigarettes was seized Wednesday in the vicinity of Sta. Cruz Island, which falls under the jurisdiction of Barangay Sta. Barbara.
The 2ZCMFC said a joint team launched a seaborne patrol and spotted a dark blue “jungkong-type” motorboat after receiving information on the shipment of smuggled cigarettes that is set to arrive in the city from Basilan.
The motorboat, manned by a four-man crew, was found to be loaded with 181 master cases of Canon menthol cigarettes with an estimated market value of PHP6,335,000.
The suspects, Mobin Awai, Muay Awai, Ahmad Adjaluddin, and Kimhar Ajid Hassan were arrested after they failed to present any legal documents for the shipment.
The confiscated cigarettes, motorboat, and the crewmen were placed under the custody of the BOC. (PNA)
