P8.4 million cigarettes seized off Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P8.4 million were seized in the waters off Zamboanga City at dawn yesterday.

Five persons were arrested during the operation conducted by a joint team of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The team intercepted a Malaysian-style watercraft or jungkong marked Lautanmas 3.

During inspection, the team found the boat loaded with 240 master cases of assorted brands of cigarettes, according to Col. Alexander Lorenzo, chief of the Zamboanga City police.

Lorenzo said the crewmembers of the Lautanmas 3 failed to present documents for their shipment.

The cigarettes came from Jolo, Sulu and were intended for distribution in Zamboanga City, probers said.

The crewmembers and the confiscated items were brought to the police headquarters for proper disposition.