LAWMEN have arrested three persons and seized P843,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in a law enforcement operation in Zamboanga Sibugay province, the police reported Tuesday, May 25.
Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspects as Patrick Muyargas, 25; Arsimar Alisani, 43; and Sabtorin Sebastian, 32.
The three were nabbed around 3:10 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, in Purok Ipil-Ipil, Magdaup village, Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Ylagan said the policemen were manning a checkpoint when the suspects, aboard a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), tried to pass through.
He said the SUV was found to be loaded with 47 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P843,000.
Of the total, 25 master cases consist of Fort cigarettes, 21 comprise of Cannon and the remaining one is Astro brand.
Ylagan said the arrested suspects were detained while the contraband were deposited at the Ipil Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)