THE police have uncovered and seized a shipment of some P271,600 worth of contraband while investigating a case of a traffic accident in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, an official said Sunday, October 30, 2022.
This, as the truck that was involved in a traffic accident was found to be loaded with 970 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth P271,600, according to Police Colonel Eduard Mallo, Zamboanga Sibugay police director.
Mallo said two people were injured in the traffic accident involving a truck and a motorcycle that happened around 9:20 p.m. Saturday, October 29, at the intersection of Sitio Tigloc in Lower Tungawan village, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Injured were Roberto Baloc, 57, the driver of the motorcycle, and his back rider, Beberlie Flores, 20. They were hospitalized.
The truck driver, Julhamid Langgah, 39, a resident of Zamboanga City, was unscathed.
Investigation showed the truck bumped the motorcycle from behind upon reaching the intersection of Sitio Tigloc in Lower Tungawan while both vehicles were traveling to Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay, coming from Zamboanga City.
Mallo said that the truck was found to be loaded with 970 reams of cigarettes worth P271,600 when Police Staff Sergeant Bryant Gako, the investigator on case, inspected the vehicle.
He said Langgah was placed under arrest after he failed to present any documents of his cargo and the cigarettes were confiscated.
He said Langgah and the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were placed under the custody of Tungawan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition prior turned over to the Bureau of Customs. (SunStar Zamboanga)