THREE Indonesians were arrested while some P125,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized by authorities in the province of Sarangani, the police reported Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

Police Colonel Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the three Indonesians were arrested around 5:20 a.m. Tuesday in the waters of Pangyan village, Glan, Sarangani.

Verceles said the arrested Indonesians were identified as Jeofrey Tampilang, 50, Suhari Tampilang, 45, and Alfin Tampilang, 16, all residents of Oeta Timur, Tahuna, Indonesia.

Verceles said they were intercepted and arrested aboard a motorboat marked “K-ADA” by personnel of the Sarangani Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA) led by Police Major Andres Banguel, Jr. in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

He said the Sarangani MARPSTA personnel launched a seaborne patrol after they received information that a motorboat carrying smuggled cigarettes is set to arrive from Indonesia.

He said seized by the three Indonesians were 500 reams of Premiex Cigarettes with estimated value of P125,000.

He said the arrested Indonesians, motorboat and cigarettes were taken to the Sarangani MARPSTA for documentation and proper disposition.

He added that the three Indonesians will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. (SunStar Zamboanga)