LAWMEN have arrested three people and seized some P1.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported.
Police Colonel Diomarie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director, identified the three arrested persons as Baginda Yunus, 42, Julasdar Hamsirul, 36, and Regino Manuel, 25.
Albarico said the three were arrested around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 30, 2022, in Purok 2, Dulop village, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.
He said the policemen were conducting checkpoint operations along the national highway when they flagged down for inspection a truck driven by Yunus.
Upon inspection, Albarico said that the truck was found to be loaded with 42 master cases of assorted brands of cigarettes worth P1,420,000 that came from Zamboanga City.
Albarico said Yunus and his two companions, Hamsirul and Manuel, were arrested and cargo confiscated after they failed to present documents concerning the shipment of cigarettes.
He said that Yunus and his two companions, vehicle and contraband were placed under the custody of the police in Dumingag pending turn over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)