Zamboanga City police intercept P5.9-M smuggled cigarettes


ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities arrested the driver of a courier firm and seized PHP5.9 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in an intelligence-driven operation late Monday, the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) said Tuesday.

The ZCPO identified the driver as alias Randy, 43, a resident of Barangay Calarian.

At about 6 p.m., operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division and Zamboanga City Police Station 5 intercepted a truck along the bypass road linking Barangays Boalan and Tugbungan.

"Inspection led by an examiner of the Bureau of Customs revealed the boxes inside the vehicle contained packs of cigarettes," the ZCPO said in its report.

Seized from the truck were 43 master cases and 75 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes concealed in bubble wrap bags, valued at PHP5.9 million.

The truck, confiscated cigarettes, and the driver are under the custody of Police Station 5 pending turnover to the Bureau of Customs.

The ZCPO said it was conducting a probe to determine the owner of the confiscated cigarettes. (PNA)

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