Authorities seized some PHP1.9 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested two persons in the Zamboanga Peninsula over the weekend, police officials said Tuesday.
Brigadier Gen. Franco Simborio, the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director, identified the suspects as Alvin Panchito, 37, driver, and his assistant, Elvin Castillo, 43.
Simborio said the two were apprehended Sunday at a checkpoint in Barangay Boyugan West, Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur, while in possession of some PHP 1,040,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes.
A team of police, military, and Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel were manning a checkpoint operation in the village when they intercepted a van driven by Panchito loaded with 80 master cases of smuggled cigarettes.
Simborio said the arrested persons were taken to the Kumalarang police station while the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the BOC.
Meanwhile, the remaining PHP910,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes was also discovered Saturday evening at a cottage in Barangay Mampang in this city.
Lorenzo said the recovered smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the BOC for proper disposition.
Source: Philippines News Agency
