Mayor lauds Navy, Coast Guard

MAYOR BENG Climaco lauded the Philippine Navy and the Coast Guard for intercepting a boat loaded with smuggled cigarettes off Zamboanga City.

Military photos show the smuggled cigarettes and the boat used to transport the contraband to Zamboanga City.

Security officials said the boat was trying to sneak into Barangay Recodo some 205 boxes of assorted cigarette brands - Champion, Cannon and New Far – worth over P7 million when it was intercepted last week. 

Authorities also questioned the boat’s 10 crew members and passengers who are natives of Sulu province. The boat’s captain also failed to present any legal documents or importation papers.

Security officials did not release the names of the crewmen and passengers or the owner of the contraband for a still unknown reason, but said all of them will be charged in court for various violations of the law.

Climaco praised the seizure of the contraband which was turned over to the Bureau of Customs. “Enhorabuena y muchisimas gracias Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy for your commitment in the fight against smuggling,” she said. 

In March this year, the mayor also lauded the efforts of the Philippine Navy following the seizure of smuggled cigarettes off Sulu’s Kalingalan Caluang. The contraband, which originated from Indonesia, was worth over P17 million and reportedly owned by a trader identified only as Wari, who is based in Zamboanga City, according to Lt. Chester Ross Cabaltera, a spokesman for the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.

Prior to that, the local police force also confiscated 49 boxes of smuggled cigarettes in Barangay Cawit in Zamboanga City. Members of the Police Station 9 discovered the 2,450 reams of cigarettes inside two abandoned vans. The contraband, worth P490,000 and had been handed over to the Bureau of Customs. 

Climaco previously ordered the police and military to intensify their anti-smuggling campaign and also warned smugglers to stop their nefarious activities or face the long arm of the law. “We will not tolerate smuggling in Zamboanga and I warned smugglers to stop their illegal activities and we will catch you and throw you all in jail,” she said.

She also ordered authorities to curb the selling of contraband items, including cigarettes, in Zamboanga City which deprive the government of much need revenues. “The City Government has to intensify the campaign against smuggling. That is why an intensified campaign against the proliferation of any smuggled products must never be tolerated,” the mayor said. (Zamboanga Post)

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