POLICE operatives seized P50.85 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate operations in Zamboanga City and Misamis Oriental, the PNP reported yesterday.
A 43-year-old policeman and his cohort were arrested in an operation in Zamboanga City last Thursday, said Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuano, chief of the PNP’s Public Information Office, in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Seized from the two suspects was an Isuzu Elf van containing 282 boxes of cigarettes worth P16.16 million.
Also in Zamboanga City, Tuano said policemen intercepted a boat carrying 445 master cases of cigarettes, worth P25.49 million, near Sacol and Manalipa Islands last Friday. No one was arrested in the operation.
In Misamis Oriental, policemen also seized P9.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in Laguindingan town last Wednesday, Tuano also reported.
Tuano said policemen are tracking down two individuals, residents of Zamboanga City, who were tagged as the “distributor and transporter” of the contraband.
The cigarettes seized in the three operations were turned over to the Bureau of Customs, said Tuano.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr said the seizure of the cigarettes was “a clear answer to the President’s call to eradicate smuggling and all forms of criminality.”
“We will not allow criminal networks to rob our economy and endanger our people’s livelihood,” said Nartatez.
He said the success of the operations “reflects the strength of our partnership with communities and government agencies.”
“With the Bureau of Customs and our local stakeholders, we will keep closing every gap that smugglers try to exploit,” said Nartatez.
