AUTHORITIES have arrested three persons and seized some P36.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga City, the police said Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Police Colonel Fidel Fortaleza Jr., Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said arrested were alias Eding, 54, a resident of Lamion village, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; alias Alwijar, 33, of Kawasan village, Panamao, Sulu; and, alias Basar, 35, of Bulangsi village, Panamao.
Fortalez said they were arrested around 9:50 a.m. Friday, May 2, at a private wharf in Campo Islam village, Zamboanga City.
Prior to the arrest and confiscation, the local police received information from a confidential informant indicating that a motorboat will dock at the private wharf to unload assorted of smuggled cigarettes.
Fortaleza said the operatives saw that assorted master cases of cigarettes are being unloaded from the motorboat, M/L J-Minda when they arrived at the private wharf.
He said seized were 642 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth P36.7 million.
He said that after proper inventory, the smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)