POLICE operatives have arrested two people and seized a shipment of some P144,000 smuggled cigarettes in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, an official announced Monday, March 28, 2022.
Police Colonel Albert Larubis, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, said that the smuggled cigarettes were seized around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Poblacion village, Buug.
Arrested were identified Nurmin Sahid, 45, ann Jalil Alia, 23, according to Larubis.
Larubis said that personnel of the 1st Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Force Company (ZSPMFC) led by Police Lieutenant Russel Jan Parungao were conducting checkpoint operation when they intercepted a Service Utility Vehicle driven by Sahid loaded with smuggled cigarettes.
He said that they seized 20 master cases of Astro cigarettes and two master cases of Cannon cigarettes with an estimated value of P144,000.
He said both Sahid and his assistant Alia failed to show documents to prove the shipment of the assorted cigarettes were legal.
He said that the two arrested persons and confiscated items were temporarily under the custody of ZSPMFC prior turn over to Bureau of Customs for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)