ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government operatives seized some PHP660,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested six persons in an anti-smuggling operation in Zamboanga del Sur, a top police official said Wednesday.
Brig. Gen. Franco Simborio, Police Regional Office–Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director, said the contraband was seized around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday at the fish port in Barangay San Pedro, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur.
A team from the Pagadian police and the Bureau of Customs launched the operation following a report that a fishing boat loaded with the smuggled items was set to dock at the village port from Zamboanga City, Simborio said.
The arrested crew of the fishing boat marked “Friendly” were Rommel Hajijul, 35; Kumar Albain, 23; Samil Kuddiya, 29; Una Albain, 55; Ruslan Ahari, 25; and Alih Hakim, 45.
Authorities seized 18 master cases of Champion cigarette brand, 13 master cases of Absolute brand, and 250 reams of Fort cigarettes.
Simborio said the fishing boat crew failed to present documents to show proof the shipment is legal.
Wednesday's confiscation was the third shipment of smuggled cigarettes that authorities seized since May 1 here in the region.
On May 1, joint police and BOC operatives seized some PHP14 million worth of smuggled cigarettes along Maria Clara Lorenzo Lobregat (MCLL) Highway in Barangay Culianan here.
On May 5, some PHP900,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized by policemen in Barangay Vitali, also in this city. (PNA)
