P30M smuggled cigarettes seized in Davao, Zamboanga

PERSONNEL from the Philippine Navy, PNP, and Bureau of Customs have seized nearly P30 million worth of smuggled cigarettes off Davao Occidental and Zamboanga City.

Fourteen crew members of two vessels being used in the smuggling were also apprehended, the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) and Zamboanga Peninsula regional police office.

The NEFM said a Navy ship, BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37), was conducting a territorial defense operation along the Philippine-Indonesian borders, specifically southwest off Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental last Sunday when it spotted a “suspicious” fishing vessel, the M/B Princess Sarah.

“The said suspicious vessel was evading PS37 and was not responding to any radio communication, resulting in its interception,” the NFEM said in a statement.

Navy personnel boarded the vessel and found 717 cases of cigarettes worth P21.51 million.

The vessel and the contraband were turned over to the BOC, the NEFM said.

The nine crew members of the vessel were apprehended and were brought to the Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Davao City for a medical check-up, before being turned over to the police.

Last Monday, operatives of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company and BOC personnel intercepted a Jungkong wooden boat, reported to be involved in smuggling, off Barangay Maasin in the city.