ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police authorities in Pagadian City seized 211 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth about P6.33 million, and arrested seven suspects as part of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) heightened campaign against smuggled tobacco products in the region.
Police Regional Office for Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) Director Brig. Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr. reported Saturday, 17, that police authorities in Pagadian City, led by Lt. Col. Flint S. Depnag, confiscated the smuggled tobacco products in Purok Tangigue, Barangay White Beach in Pagadian City at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday, October 15.
Cambay said the police also arrested five persons, who were seen transporting the smuggled goods to a waiting green drop side truck, and then to a fishing boat.
He identified the five arrested individuals as Munar Parantes Badari, 28; Dada Solaiman Ado, 34; Al Dasi Bakil Juhaili, 27; Sakib Marid Sayyadi, 42; Alkabid J. Jumdain; Alfahad Y. Pustahan; and Abdurajik Faruk Halaman. They were all residents of Sulu.
Cambay said the seven arrested persons and the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were brought to the Pagadian City Police Station for proper disposition.