By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have arrested five individuals and seized some PHP21.4 million worth of contraband off the city’s waters, according to a police official on Wednesday.
Col. Fidel Fortaleza, Jr., director of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), identified the five arrested individuals through their aliases as Taib, 44; Denmar, 21; Kimar, 32; Al-Naizar, 25; and Almojer, 32, all city residents.
Fortaleza said they were arrested Tuesday afternoon near Sta. Cruz Island, Barangay Sta. Barbara, Zamboanga City.
“The personnel of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company were conducting seaborne patrol in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) when they chanced upon two motorboats sailing to Zamboanga City,” Fortaleza said in a report.
He said that upon inspection, the two motorboats were found to be loaded with 367 master cases and 35 reams of undocumented assorted brands of cigarettes.
The cigarettes came from Basilan province and were supposed to be delivered in Zamboanga City.
The contraband, along with the two motorboats, were turned over to the BOC for proper disposition, while the five arrested individuals were placed under the custody of Zamboanga City Police Station 11.
Tuesday’s confiscation of contraband cigarettes is the second and the most significant accomplishment of the authorities against smuggling in the city this August.
On Aug. 15, personnel from the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group arrested two individuals and seized some PHP1.6 million worth of contraband cigarettes loaded in a truck during an operation in Barangay Sta. Catalina. (PNA)
