POLICEMEN, backed by Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) personnel, seized a shipment of smuggled cigarettes following a brief chase in Zamboanga del Sur, an official said Monday, January 4.

Police Captain Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said the shipment was seized around 5 p.m. Sunday on Rizal Street in San Pedro Village, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Duco said the policemen and MDRRMC personnel were manning a checkpoint in Purok Talisay, Lower Landing village, Dumingag, when a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) driven by Romer Beron, 42, disregarded the checkpoint and sped off, prompting them to chase the SUV.

Duco said the SUV was found loaded with 10 master cases of smuggled cigarettes when Berong voluntarily opened the window of the SUV when he was cornered in San Pedro village.

The estimated value of the confiscated smuggled cigarettes was placed at P75,000.

Duco said Berong, his driven vehicle and the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were placed under the custody of Dumingag Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)