ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Navy seized smuggled cigarettes valued at P52 million in this city on Thursday, Nov. 24.
Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem) personnel intercepted five ‘’jungkong’’ or small wooden motorized boats loaded with 1,511 boxes of undocumented cigarettes with an estimated value of P52,885,000 in the sea off Barangay Labuan.
The seizure was reported in a letter sent by Lt. Junior Grade Cyril Laureno, chief of the Navforwem Resource Management Section, to Customs District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. on Thursday.
The crew was turned over to the Bureau of Customs while the boats were temporarily docked at the naval station in Barangay Rio Hondo here.
Mayor John Dalipe of this city commended the Navy for their efforts towards curbing smuggling here.