ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police seized smuggled cigarettes worth P850,000 in a checkpoint in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur on Thursday, July 6.
Three persons were arrested after they failed to present documents to legalize the transport of the cargo.
Police Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-9 Information Officer, said the suspects’ van was flagged down in a checkpoint in Purok Talisay 2, Lower Landing.
Authorities manning the checkpoint quickly saw the contraband in plain view from the open canvas cover of the vehicle.
Police confiscated 16 master cases and 49 reams of imported smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P850,000.
The suspects and the contraband were turned over to the Dumingag police.