ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have seized an estimated P25 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during an operation at sea off two island components of this city, a top police official said Saturday.
Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., director of the Zamboanga City Police Office, said the contraband was intercepted around 5:05 p.m. Friday between Sacol and Manalipa islands. A patrol team spotted a motorboat marked “Makhfiyyan,” which was found abandoned when approached.
Police discovered 400 master cases of assorted cigarette brands aboard the vessel. The haul was taken to the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile “Seaborne” Company headquarters and later turned over to the Bureau of Customs.
An investigation is underway to identify the owner of the smuggled goods. The operation came a day after two suspects, including a policeman, were arrested in a separate case involving P16.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.
