TWO people were arrested while some P225,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized by authorities in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Friday, March 17, 2023.

Police Colonel Diomarie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director, identified the arrested persons as Francisco Ortez Sordillo, 46, and Benhar Abel Taha, 50, both from Davao City.

Albarico said they were arrested around 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16, in Boyugan West village, Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur.

He said the personnel of the 2nd Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company were conducting checkpoint when they flagged down a van, driven by Sordillo, for inspection.

Albarico said the van was found to be loaded with boxes of cigarettes and Sordillo and Taha were arrested after they failed to present documents of the merchandise they were transporting.

The arrested suspects and the confiscated contrabands were brought to Kumalarang Municipal Police Station. (SunStar Zamboanga)