300 boxes of cigarettes seized

LOCAL AUTHORITIES seized more than 300 boxes of cigarettes in separate operations in Zamboanga City as part of an intensified anti-smuggling campaign in this part of the country.

Mayor Beng Climaco lauded the military and police, including the Bureau of Customs for the successful campaign and she warned smugglers to stop their nefarious activities.

“First of all let me congratulate our security forces, the police and military, the Customs and other units involved in this successful campaign. They did it again and thank you to all. And for those behind these illegal activities, I am warning you. The long arm of the law will catch sooner or later,” she told the Zamboanga Post by phone when asked to comment on the seizure of the cigarettes.

A photo released by the 74th Infantry Battalion shows the cigarettes intercepted by soldiers November 16, 2021 in Barangay Sangali.

Members of the Alpha Company of the 74^th Infantry Battalion under Joint Task Force Zamboanga intercepted a private van loaded with cigarettes during a security inspection in Barangay Sangali on November 16.

Lt. Col. Julius Villena, the battalion commander, reported to the mayor about the seizure of the cigarettes and said the driver failed to show any documents. The soldiers turned over the truck and the cargo, including the driver to police authorities.

A police photo shows the intercepted cigarettes seized by authorities on November 15, 2021 off Manalipa Island.

Some 207 boxes of cigarettes were also intercepted by members of the Philippine National Police - 2nd Mobile Force Company and the Bureau of Customs while being transported by a motorized boat off Manalipa Island on November 15. The cigarettes also had no pertinent documents, authorities said, adding the cargo was bound for Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay province. 

The boat was manned by six crew members, who are residents of Malamawi Island in Basilan province. It was unclear whether the crew men were jailed or not. Authorities did not identify the owners of the seized cigarettes. (Zamboanga Post)