Over P5-M smuggled cigarettes seized off Zamboanga City, 10 arrested

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—Eight crew members and two boat owners were arrested for trying to ship into the city an estimated P5.67 million worth of smuggled cigarettes.

Colonel Rexmel Reyes, Zamboanga City police director, said the shipment was intercepted at around 12 p.m., on Wednesday (Sept. 29) in the vicinity of Tumalutap Island.

Reyes said the smuggled cigarettes were loaded on two vessels, with markings MPB November Rain and MV Adzmie Boy.

Seized were 162 master cases of various cigarette brands which were turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Adzmin Pasan Sawadjaan, owner of MV Adzmie Boy, and Bon Bon Samat, owner and boat captain of MPB November Rain, are both natives of Isabela City, Basilan.

The 8 crew members were identified as Henry Indal Adjilani (boat captain), 59; Alih Usman Pusung, 24; Rasid Ansaldo Asmara, 18; Sajel Sabtal Askalani, 26; Al Sarani Hailil, 28; Mijar Sayari Middun, 23; Middun Baharun Hasim, 64; and Lacson Barahluddin Jawharan, 33.

Authorities are still trying to identify and track down the owners and consignees of the smuggled goods.

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