SMUGGLED CIGARETTES. Personnel of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao inspect the seized cigarettes worth PHP2.1 million at the Galas feeder port in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, on Monday (Feb. 20, 2023). The contraband is part of the PHP92.2 million worth of illicit goods seized by authorities in separate anti-smuggling operations in Zamboanga and Sulu since Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo courtesy of CGDSWM)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities seized some PHP92.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate anti-smuggling operations in Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu, officials said Tuesday. The latest apprehensions were made by the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police in separate anti-smuggling operations in Zamboanga del Norte. Commodore Marco Antonio Gines, commander of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, said some PHP2.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized Monday at the Galas feeder port in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Gines said the assorted smuggled cigarettes, hidden in a delivery van using 32 bags of rice bran, were confiscated by the boarding team of the Dipolog City coast guard substation team.
The contraband was turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for proper disposition.
Shortly before noon of the same day, Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsañgan, the Police Regional Office-9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) director, said a van loaded with PHP120,980 worth of assorted smuggled cigarettes was intercepted at a police checkpoint in Barangay Ilaya, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Alinsañgan said the van driver, Danilo Josol was arrested after he failed to show documents of his merchandise.
Over the weekend, Rear Adm. Donn Anthony Miraflor, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said NFWM operatives also intercepted a wooden-hulled vessel loaded with contrabands 1,600 yards northeast of BJ wharf in Indanan, Sulu, on Feb. 18.
Miraflor said ML Haiban was found to be loaded with 4,500 master cases and 225,000 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth PHP92 million when inspected.
ML Habain which was manned by an 11-man crew and skippered by Eddie Taugiag, came from Indonesia when intercepted.
Miraflor said the vessel including its cargo and crew, was escorted on Sunday to Mauboh Pier in Patikul and turned over to the custody of the BOC-Sulu for appropriate disposition. (PNA)
