AUTHORITIES have seized some P350,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in an intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operation in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Thursday, October 20, 2022.

Police Colonel Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the smuggled cigarettes were seized around 4 a.m. Thursday, October 20, in Purok Orchids, Poblacion village, Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.

Verceles said the police in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) launched a joint intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operation after they received information about the presence of smuggled cigarettes in Purok Orchids, Poblacion village, Margosatubig.

“The smuggled cigarettes are ready for pick-up but it was abandoned upon sensing the arrival of the operating team,” Verceles said.

He said the inventory of the contraband was conducted in the area and witnessed by Councilor Rex Sayson of Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur.

Verceles said seized were 10 master cases of Fort (white) with an estimated assessed value from the BOC worth P350,000.

He said the smuggled cigarettes were brought to Margosatubig Municipal Police Station for documentation and will be turned over to the BOC for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)