ZAMBOANGA CITY – Smuggled cigarettes worth more than P8 million were seized in this city on Monday, November 6.
The Zamboanga 2nd Mobile Force Company and the Bureau of Customs were conducting seaborne patrol in the sea in Barangay Maasin when they spotted a motorized boat or “jungkong” marked Lautanmas 3.
They conducted an inspection and discovered more than 200 master cases of various imported cigarettes with an estimated value of P8.4 million.
Five boat crew members were taken into custody after they failed to present documents legalizing the transport of the cargo.
The jungkong was headed towards Zamboanga Sibugay from Sulu when it was intercepted by lawmen.
The contraband was brought to the headquarters of the 2nd Mobile Force Company prior to turn over to the Bureau of Customs.