OPERATIVES of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have seized a shipment of some P7.1 million worth of smuggled assorted cigarettes at the local port, the BOC said Tuesday, February 9.

The BOC-Zamboanga District Office said in a statement that the shipment was intercepted around 8:15 p.m. Saturday, February 6, at the port of Zamboanga City.

The shipment, which was placed in a 20-footer container van and loaded in a trailer truck, came from nearby Basilan province, the BOC added.

It said that prior to departure, the driver, whose name was withheld, was told that the container van was loaded with raw rubber bound for Zamboanga City.

"The driver told our operatives that it is usual that he regularly transports to and from a warehouse," the BOC said.

The customs operatives managed to intercept the shipment based on reliable information and close coordination with other intelligence units, the BOC added.

The contraband and trailer truck were impounded. (SunStar Zamboanga)