P6.2 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes with an estimated street value of P6.2 million were seized near an island-village in this city on Saturday.

Personnel of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) were patrolling in the waters off Manalipa Island at around 1 a.m. when they intercepted a wooden-hulled motorized boat or jungkong with seven persons aboard.

The team inspected the boat and discovered 178 master cases of assorted cigarettes of various brands, according to Lt. Col. Reynald Ariño, chief of the mobile force company.

The boat’s crewmembers failed to present documents for the shipment.

Authorities believe the cigarettes came from Sulu and were intended for sale in Zamboanga peninsula.

Police intensified border control operations after a series of smuggling attempts were foiled in the area.

The crewmembers and their boat as well as the boxes of cigarettes were turned over to the BOC for proper disposition.