Photo courtesy of 53IB
Government forces confiscated suspected smuggled cigarettes worth about Php 105.9 million in separate operations in Zamboanga del Sur on Monday.
The Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion said Tuesday that 671 master cases of assorted cigarettes were recovered during two anti-smuggling operations conducted with partner agencies.
Most of the contraband was found in Barangay White Beach in Pagadian City, where authorities seized 611 master cases of assorted cigarettes.
Troops also recovered a wing-van truck, a motorboat, and five small indigenous boats locally known as bote-bote, which were allegedly used in the illegal cigarette trade.
In a separate operation in Barangay Punta Flecha in Pitogo town, authorities confiscated 60 master cases of assorted cigarettes.
Three suspected smugglers were arrested during the Pitogo operation.
The Army said the seized cigarettes from both operations had a combined estimated market value of more than Php 105.9 million.
The confiscated items and recovered assets were turned over to the Bureau of Customs in Pagadian City for documentation and legal proceedings, while the Army said the operations showed stronger coordination among government agencies against smuggling activities that affect economic security and public welfare.