Smuggled tobacco products worth more than P10 million seized in Zamboanga City

February 11, 2019

Government forces seized smuggled tobacco products worth more than 10 million pesos in a law enforcement operation in Zamboanga City last Saturday, a military official said on Monday.

Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command, said the operation was conducted in the vicinity of Zamboanga City International Port.

He said operating troops include troops under Western Mindanao Command and personnel of Field Station Zamboanga, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 9, Coast Guard Station Zamboanga, and Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Besana said confiscated were 12,640 reams of cigarettes worth 11 million pesos.

“MV Kristel Jane 3, a passenger vessel from Jolo, Sulu, carried the smuggled items,” he said.

Besana said the military troops turned over the smuggled cigarettes to the BOC for proper disposition.

Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command chief, said “troops will bolster operations and assist law enforcers to curb smuggling and address its adverse effects on local industries.” Robina Asido/DMS