A motorized wooden boat locally known as "jungkong" loaded with a hundred master cases of cigarettes was intercepted off the waters of Manalipa Island in Zamboanga City, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Friday, July 16.
The cigarettes, which were believed to have been smuggled, were worth around P3.5 million. The items were intercepted on Thursday, July 15 during a seaborne patrol operation initiated by customs agents, local police, and a team from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
According to the BOC, the watercraft marked as "MPB Arshan" was manned by four individuals and was bound for mainland Zamboanga. The cigarettes were labeled with a brand "King Perfect."
The seized boat and the master cases of cigarettes are now under the custody of the BOC for proper inventory and disposition.
Possible violations of Section 1113 (a) of Republic Act (RA) No.10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) of 2016 in relation to Section 117 and the Tobacco Exportation and Importation Rules and Regulations being implemented by the National Tobacco Administration are being looked into by authorities.
Port of Zamboanga District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte Jr. in a statement said that they will continue to intensify the conduct of anti-smuggling operations in the area and will "remain steadfast in maintaining close coordination with law enforcement agencies pursuant to Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero’s directive."