TROOPS under the 4th Marine Brigade (4MBde) have seized some P7.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested six people off Sulu, a top military official announced Sunday, November 21, 2021

Colonel Hernanie Songano, 4MBde commander, said the contraband shipment was seized around 9:30 p.m. Friday, November 19, offshore of Pangdan-Pangdan village in Kalingalan Caluang town, Sulu.

Songano said the troops aboard Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (BA485) were conducting maritime interdiction operations when they chanced upon a motorboat, MB Francis Kane, loaded with cargo and manned by a six-man crew.

Songano said the watercraft was found to be loaded with assorted smuggled cigarettes with an estimated worth of P7.5 million.

Arrested were Haber Amerol, the owner of the motorboat; Muhaimen Idris; Abdin Jaji, Muster Han, Ahabsy Maruji; and Alvin Mohamara Addani, according to Songano.

He said the BA485 towed the motorboat with the six-man crew and contraband aboard to this city for eventual turnover to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.

He lauded the operating troops for the successful conduct of the maritime law enforcement operation.

He also expressed his gratitude to the community for giving the information leading to the apprehension of the contraband. (SunStar Zamboanga)