THE joint police and Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives have seized more than P1 million worth of assorted items in an anti-smuggling operation in this southern port city, an official said Saturday, August 27.
Police Colonel Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the shipment was intercepted around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 27, near Manalipa Island in Zamboanga City.
The five persons onboard the vessel were also arrested, namely, Nurhasi Jibal Said, 52; Julkipli Lamalan, 43; Tony Dahi, 32; Anam Dammang Said, 53; and, Lijon Salad Albani.
Verceles said the joint operatives were on seaborne patrol when they chanced upon a motorboat, locally known as Jungkong marked FB Reana, with five people aboard.
Verceles said they found out upon inspection that the motorboat was loaded with 30 master cases of Cannon cigarettes worth P1,050,000, and 13 boxes of assorted noodles valued at P25,500.
He said the shipment was confiscated as nobody among the five crew members was able to present documents of the cargo.
He said the contraband, which came from Jolo, Sulu and bound for Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as the motorboat, and the crewmen were turned over to the custody of BOC for the proper disposition of the case. (SunStar Zamboanga)