By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities seized PHP59.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate law enforcement operations from Feb. 14 to 21 in Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro province of Basilan, officials said Monday.
Of the total, some PHP55.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized by the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) and the remaining PHP3.8 million by the police.
On Feb. 21, Rear Admiral Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., commander of WMNC, said the sailors intercepted a vessel, M/V Sarhana, one nautical mile south of Marungas Island, Sulu, while on maritime patrol.
“Upon inspection, the vessel was found to be transporting 600 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes from Jolo, Sulu, bound for Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte,” Reyes said in his report.
The total value of the confiscated smuggled cigarettes is estimated at PHP34.6 million.
On the same day, Reyes said maritime interdiction intensified as the sailors apprehended MB Fatimah Darsa near Little Sta. Cruz, Zamboanga City.
The vessel was carrying 336 master cases and 45 reams of smuggled cigarettes, valued at PHP19.4 million.
In Basilan, the police seized smuggled cigarettes, also on Feb. 21, in Sitio Kayu Poteh, Barangay Maganda, Lamitan City.
“While traversing the area of Sitio Kayu Poteh, the operating team discovered several boxes of cigarettes in plain view, apparently abandoned by unidentified individuals upon sensing the presence of authorities,” Lt. Col. Elmer Solon, the police chief of Lamitan City, said in his report.
Solon said the operatives have seized 67 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of PHP3.8 million.
He added that the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were transported to Lamitan City Police Station for documentation and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Meanwhile, Reyes said they also intercepted M/B Aafiya Sheza in the waters off Barangay Recodo, Zamboanga City, on Feb. 14.
The vessel was carrying 25 master cases of imported cigarettes valued at PHP1.5 million.
He said the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were subsequently turned over to the BOC-Port of Zamboanga for proper inventory and final disposition. (PNA)
