THREE people were arrested while more than P10.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in an anti-smuggling operation in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Sunday, March 26, 2023

The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office identified the arrested suspects as Rannie Solatorio, 27; Madlan Salapudin, 32; and, Cayetano Dabon, 55.

The police said they were arrested in an anti-drug operation around 5:50 a.m. Friday, March 24, in Tiguma village, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

The police said the suspects were caught in the act of unloading purchased smuggled cigarettes from a yellow refrigerated van.

Upon verification, the arrested suspects failed to present pertinent documents of the smuggled cigarettes, hence, they were arrested and the cargo confiscated.

The confiscated smuggled cigarettes consist of 310 master cases of red Union brand cigarettes with estimated market value P10,850,000. Also seized is a refrigerated van.

The arrested persons and the confiscated evidence were brought to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Zamboanga del Sur provincial field unit for documentation and proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)