POLICE and Bureau of Customs personnel arrested four boat crew members for smuggling cigarettes, worth P4.41 million, off Zamboanga City.
The suspects were identified as Alyasser Malik, 35; Jam Badiri, 22; Albani Bennajar, 26 and Jihad Albani, 52; all residents of Zamboanga City.
A report from the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police office said the suspects were intercepted at around 2:30 a.m. last Friday off Barangay Recodo in Zamboanga City.
The operation was jointly conducted by personnel of the PNP’s 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company and Customs, the report said.
“The (anti-smuggling) operation resulted in the interception of one motorized wooden watercraft, with body mark ‘Nadz.’ On board were four crew members,” the report said.
Seized from their possession were 107 “master cases” of red New Berlin, 17 of red Astro, and two of white San Marino cigarettes, worth P4.41 million, the report said.
Police said the crew members have “no pertinent documents” for the cigarettes found in their possession.
The four suspects and the seized cigarettes were turned over to the BOC for “proper disposition.” — Victor Reyes
