MANILA, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes valued at P6.8 million were confiscated in Zamboanga del Sur and Nueva Ecija on Thursday and Friday.
Personnel of the 2nd Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company discovered 164 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P5.7 million in a delivery van they intercepted in Barangay Depase in Bayog town.
Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsangan, Zamboanga peninsula police director, said the van driver, Jefferson Amabao, and his companion Vicente Garcia were arrested for failing to present any pertinent document to transport the cigarettes.
In Nueva Ecija, Garry de Guzman and Benboy Alania were apprehended for transporting smuggled cigarettes valued at P1.1 million, reports reaching Col. Richard Caballero, acting Nueva Ecija police director, showed.
The suspects reportedly refused to pull over at a checkpoint in Barangay Sto. Rosario Young, resulting in a police pursuit.