AUTHORITIES arrested seven persons for smuggling P6.2 million worth of cigarettes in Zamboanga City last Saturday, a few weeks after a similar foiled smuggling in the same area.
Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the seven as Benzar Jajales, Pajing Muknan, Binbin Asiril, Elnejin Asiril, Minkadra Sakili, Sherwin Masakin and Adzmir Bakki.
The six, onboard a motorboat, were intercepted by personnel of the 2nd Mobile Force Company of the Zamboanga City PNP and Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the vicinity of Manalipa Island.
Seized from them were 178 cigarette cases with a market value of P6.2 million.
“No pertinent documents were provided when authorities asked for them. Thus, the need to apprehend those persons,” said PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.
The suspects are currently under the custody of the police, pending the filing of charges against them while the cigarettes are in the custody of the Bureau of Customs.
Last June 21, PNP and BOC personnel arrested 10 persons, on another motorboat, in possession of 275 cases and 32 rims of cigarettes, worth P9.6 million, also in the vicinity of Manalipa Island.
