POLICE operatives have seized a shipment of some P1.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, an official announced Wednesday, September 8, 2021.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonery Ojas, Pagadian City police chief, said shipment of smuggled cigarettes was intercepted around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 7, in Baloyboan village in that city.

Ojas said personnel of the Baloyoban Community Police Assistance Center (Compac) were conducting checkpoint operations when they intercepted a wing van truck loaded with 115 master cases of cigarettes.

Ojas said 91 of the 115 master cases comprised of Fort cigarettes while the remaining 24 master cases are New Berlin.

He said both David Batu-on Franco, 43, the driver, and his assistant, Michael Bryan Tagaytay, 21, failed to present documents to prove that the shipment of the cigarettes is legal.

He said Franco and Tagaytay were detained, while the truck and contraband impounded at the Pagadian City police station for proper disposal. (SunStar Zamboanga)