THREE people were arrested while some P3.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized in an anti-smuggling operation in Zamboanga City, the police reported Sunday, October 8, 2023.
Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said the shipment was seized around 3:20 a.m. Sunday, October 8, in the waters of Maasin village, west of Zamboanga City.
Lorenzo said the personnel of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force “Seaborne” Company were conducting patrol when they intercepted a motorboat named Sitti Hana manned by three crewmen.
He identified the three arrested crewmen as Mannan Asgari, 58, the skipper of motorboat, and his two assistants, Mashir Asgari, 19, and Saldi Awalil, 33, all residents of Maluso, Basilan province.
Lorenzo said the three crewmen and the cigarettes were seized after they failed to present documents of their cargo.
The motorboat was found to be loaded with 90 master cases of assorted brand of cigarettes worth P3,150,000 that reportedly came from Jolo, Sulu.
Lorenzo said the arrested crewmen, motorboat and the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were placed under the custody of the 2ZCMFC for documentation and eventual turnover to the Bureau of Customs. (SunStar Zamboanga)