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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider P5.4-M smuggled cigarettes seized

P5.4-M smuggled cigarettes seized

Published Apr 15, 2026 09:44 pm
FORTALEZA (FB)
FORTALEZA (FB)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities seized smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P5.4 million here and Cotabato City on Wednesday.
Police Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, reported that the seizure occurred at about 3:30 a.m. in Isla Berde, Chonga Drive, Barangay Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City.
“The cigarettes were spotted along the shoreline, and the persons hauling it immediately escaped and abandoned the smuggled items upon sensing the presence of the policemen and other operatives,” Fortaleza said in a report.
Operatives recovered 41 master cases of cigarettes worth P2.46 million. The confiscated items bear a brand name manufactured in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Fortaleza said the ZCPO is coordinating with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Regional Maritime Unit-9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) to assist in the investigation and identify the owners of the contraband.
The confiscated cigarettes were brought to the Zamboanga City Police Station 12 for proper disposition.
In Cotabato City, alert police officers foiled a smuggling try by still unidentified men after the contraband was discovered in a secluded area in Barangay Kalanganan 2 early Wednesday.
Operatives of Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) immediately rushed to the area at past 4 a.m. after receiving intelligence information about a cargo truck loaded with what appeared to be smuggled cigarettes.
Police Col. Jibin Bongcayao, city police director, said he immediately sent personnel from Police Station 3 to Timako Hill in the coastal village to verify the report.
Police found an Isuzu truck (license plate MAJ-1273) parked beside the secluded road with boxes of cigarettes as cargo.
“The law enforcers noticed several men fleeing from the truck and had gone under cover of darkness, leaving behind the contraband,” he said in an interview with reporters.
Bongcayao said about 70 master cases of "Bosqu" brand cigarettes were discovered, with an estimated value of P3 million.
The cigarettes are now in the custody of Police Station 3 and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs while charges are being prepared against the suspects, particularly the registered owner of the truck, for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and other related laws.

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Zamboanga City Smuggled cigarettes
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