POLICEMEN have arrested two persons and seized some P1.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in an anti-smuggling operation in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
Police Brigadier General Neil Alinsañgan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the arrested suspects as Adrian Saldo, 39, and Ahmedjoem Taupan, 19.
Alinsañgan said that Saldo and Taupan were arrested in a checkpoint around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday along the national highway at Purok 2 in Lower Landing village, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.
Alinsañgan said the policemen of Dumingag have established a checkpoint after they received a report that a shipment of smuggled cigarettes is set to arrive in Lower Landing.
He said seized from Saldo and Taupan were some 36 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P1.2 million.
The two arrested suspects, vehicle and the smuggled cigarettes were placed under the custody of Dumingag Municipal Police Station pending turnover to the Bureau of Customs (BOC). (SunStar Zamboanga)