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Navy seizes P29-M smuggled cigarettes near Tawi-Tawi town

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

August 27, 2021, 4:25 pm

<p><strong>SMUGGLED CIGARETTES.</strong> Troops of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) seize on the evening of Aug. 23, 2021 some PHP29 million worth of smuggled cigarettes while on maritime security patrol 15 nautical miles southeast of Manuk Mankaw, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. A K-9 unit of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao inspects the contraband upon arrival of the contraband for inventory at Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City on Aug. 25, 2021. <em>(Photo courtesy of the NFWM Public Affairs Office)</em></p>

SMUGGLED CIGARETTES. Troops of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) seize on the evening of Aug. 23, 2021 some PHP29 million worth of smuggled cigarettes while on maritime security patrol 15 nautical miles southeast of Manuk Mankaw, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. A K-9 unit of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao inspects the contraband upon arrival of the contraband for inventory at Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City on Aug. 25, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the NFWM Public Affairs Office)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), through the Naval Task Force-61, has seized some PHP29 million worth of smuggled cigarettes off the waters of Simunul, Tawi-Tawi earlier this week, a top navy official announced here Friday.

In a statement, Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., NFWM commander, said the contraband was intercepted near the island town on the evening of August 23.

Adaci said the vessel, M/L Raheenia, which was transporting the contraband was then escorted and arrived Wednesday at the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon here where an inventory was conducted together with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other agencies.

Adaci said the Naval Task Force-61 troops, backed by the 3rd Boat Attack Division and littoral monitoring station, were on maritime security patrol when they chanced upon M/L Raheenia 15 nautical miles southeast off Manuk Mankaw, Simunul.

He said the troops found that the vessel, manned by a seven-man crew, was loaded with undocumented cigarettes when they conducted Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure Operations.

He said the results of the inventory on the contraband conducted together with the representatives of the BOC, and Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao showed that M/L Raheenia was loaded with 1,656 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with a market value of PHP29,980,000.

He said that 1,093 of the 1,565 master cases are King Red cigarettes and the remaining 563 are King Green.

He added that the crew, vessel, and the seized cargo were turned over to the BOC for appropriate action. (PNA)

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