ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities seized an estimated P9.7-million worth of smuggled cigarettes near Santa Cruz Island here on Sunday, February 18.
SMUGGLED cigarettes worth P9.7 million were seized by authorities in Zamboanga City. (2nd ZCMFC photo)
The 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company was conducting border patrol at 10:20 p.m. when they chanced upon a boat marked Ridzna.
An inspection was conducted and the boat was found to be loaded with 170 master cases of cigarettes with an estimated market value of P9.7 million.
Two crew members, Mar and Tal, were taken into custody after they failed to provide documents to legalize the transport of the cargo.
The cargo and crew were brought to the mobile force company headquarters for turn over to the Bureau of Customs.