POLICEMEN have seized some P300,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes while on security patrol in the province of Sulu, the police reported Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
Police Colonel Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said the smuggled cigarettes were seized around 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 15, in Zone 3, Tulay village, Jolo, Sulu.
Verceles said the policemen were conducting mobile patrol when they spotted a pile of several master cases of cigarettes at the side of the road near the wharf of Jolo that prompted them to secure the cargo.
However, he said no one came forward to claim ownership, which prompted the policemen to confiscate the cigarettes.
Verceles said seized were 25 master cases of Famous brand worth P250,000 and five master cases of Ocean Gold brand of cigarettes valued at P50,000 or for a total of P300,000.
He said the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were placed under the custody of the Jolo Municipal Police Station and will be turned over later to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)