THE police, together with Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives, have seized anew P2.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested six people in Zamboanga City, a top police official said Thursday, November 4.

Police Colonel Rexmel Reyes, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said the shipment of smuggled cigarettes was seized around 7 a.m. Wednesday near Tumalutap village, east of Zamboanga City.

Reyes said the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company (2ZCMFC) personnel, together with the BOC operatives, were conducting seaborne patrol when they intercepted a motorboat manned by six crewmen.

Reyes identified the six crewmen as Romir Ajijol, 34, the skipper; Jomel Sala, 38; Admer Nawadi, 21; Alih Hakim, 44; Aljamar Nawadi, 31; and Una Arbair, 55.

Reyes said the motorboat was found loaded with 77 master cases and 23 rims of undocumented assorted cigarettes with an estimated market value of P2.7 million.

He said investigation showed that the shipment of cigarettes came from Jolo, Sulu, and bound for Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said the confiscated cigarettes, crewmen and motorboat were turned over to the BOC for the filing of appropriate charges.

Wednesday’s confiscation of smuggled cigarettes was the second in Zamboanga City.

The first involved the confiscation of some P1.6 million worth of smuggled cigarettes around 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 2, also near Tumalutap village, one of the island villages east of Zamboanga City.

The shipment of cigarettes also came from Jolo, Sulu and bound for Zamboanga Sibugay province. (SunStar Zamboanga)