Smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P3.1 million were seized by police and maritime patrol operatives in this city on Sunday.

Three crewmembers of a watercraft carrying the cigarettes were arrested during the operation led by officers of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company, according to city police chief Col. Alexander Lorenzo.

The officers, who were in a speedboat, were conducting seaborne, border control and anti-smuggling operations in the waters off Barangay Maasin when they spotted a Malaysian boat or jungkong marked Sitti Hana.

The police intercepted the Sitti Hana, where 90 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarette brands were found.

The crewmembers, all natives of Maluso, Basilan, failed to present documents for their cargo.

Lorenzo said the jungkong and the cigarettes came from Jolo, Sulu and were supposed to be delivered to Zamboanga City.