GOVERNMENT operatives have seized a shipment of P2.1 million worth of assorted smuggled cigarettes off Zamboanga City, a top police official said Tuesday, April 27.

Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said the smuggled cigarettes were seized around 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 26, near the shore of Sitio Layag-Layag in Talon-Talon village, five kilometers east of City Hall.

Ylagan said the personnel of the 2nd City Mobile Force Company were conducting seaborne patrol when they chanced upon a "jungkung" type motorboat heading toward the shallow waters near the shore of Sitio Layag-Lagag in Talon-Talon.

Ylagan said the crew of the motorboat scampered and abandoned the watercraft when they noticed the approaching policemen.

He said that upon inspection, the patrolling policemen discovered that the motorboat was loaded with 60 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P2.1 million.

He said the motorboat and its cargo were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.

He added that investigation is ongoing to determine ownership of the watercraft and the contraband. (SunStar Zamboanga)