P2.8-M smuggled cigarettes recovered in Zamboanga City
By Liza Jocson
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police arrested three suspected smugglers and seized smuggled cigarettes valued at P2.8 million in a warehouse here on Tuesday, April 1.
Police Col. Melvin Laguros, maritime police chief here, identified the suspects as Joveven Tanazao, van driver Jerome S. Solaiman, and truck man and Darrel Wee.
Authorities received information that a van loaded with smuggled cigarettes was enroute to transfer the cargo to a shipping container owned by a local forwarder.
The maritime police immediately coordinated with the Bureau of Customs and other police units for a possible operation and found 50 master cases of smuggled cigarettes valued at P2.8 million inside white sacks.
Lawmen asked the suspects for pertinent papers but failed to present these.
The suspects were arrested for violating Republic Act 10643 or An Act to Effectively Instill Health Consciousness through Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Products and RA 10863 or the Custom Modernization and Tariff Act.