SMUGGLED CIGARETTES. A team of police and Marine troopers seize PHP1.6 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Tambara, Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Thursday (Feb. 9, 2023). No suspects were arrested as they fled upon sensing the arrival of the authorities, according to the police. (Photo courtesy of Area Police Command-Western Mindanao)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have seized more than PHP1.6 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate anti-smuggling drives in Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, a top police official said Friday.
Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command - Western Mindanao, said no one was arrested during the twin operations on Thursday as the supposed owners abandoned their contraband upon sensing the arrival of authorities.
Verceles said the bulk of the smuggled cigarettes were seized in Barangay Tambara, Malabang, Lanao del Sur at about 11 a.m.
Authorities seized 116 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth PHP1.6 million after receiving information that boxes of cigarettes were being unloaded in Tambara village.
The confiscated cigarettes were taken to the Malabang Municipal Police Station for documentation and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for disposition, Verceles said.
Meanwhile, policemen also seized about 30 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Bliss, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay at about 5 p.m. on the same day.
Verceles said the contraband was confiscated after an owner of a neighborhood sundry store reported to them that an unidentified person is selling her cigarettes at cheaper prices.
“She suspected that it was smuggled cigarettes because it was sold at a very low price,” he said.
The confiscated cigarettes were taken to the Buug municipal police station before its turnover to the BOC. (PNA)
