Agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated around P7.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during an operation off the waters of Zamboanga City.
In a statement, the BOC said they coordinated with the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company “Seaborne” and W2 Tactical Operations Wing Western Mindanao of the Philippine Air Force in the conduct of a joint maritime patrol operation on July 8.
They then intercepted a wooden motorized watercraft, locally known as “jungkong”, marked as “FB Hayarana”.
It was loaded with 203 master cases and 66 reams of assorted cigarettes of various brands: Modern, New Far, Fort, Cannon and San Marino.
“The six crew members failed to present documents that prove the regularity of prior importation of the subject cigarettes, and subsequent transport to Zamboanga City,” the statement read.
The apprehended vessel and its contents are under the custody of the BOC for proper disposition in violation of the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) of 2016 in relation to Section 117 and “Tobacco Exportation and Importation Rules and Regulations."