INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Almost P93 million worth of contraband cigarettes were seized in separate operations in Mindanao, authorities reported in separate statements on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the Philippine Navy said that it conducted a “visit, board, search, and seizure operations” on the 11-crew ML Haiban in Indanan town in Sulu.
The boat was found to be carrying 4,500 cases and 225,000 reams of undocumented cigarettes with an estimated market value of P90 million. The cigarettes allegedly came from Indonesia.
The boat, along with its crew and the seized items, was escorted to Mauboh Pier, Patikul, Sulu, then turned over to the Bureau of Customs-Sulu.
Also on Saturday, the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrested three people aboard a Mitsubishi Canter at a checkpoint on the National Highway of Kintay, Barangay Sinawal in General Santos City.
Soldiers at the checkpoint found them carrying P601,370 worth of smuggled cigarettes.
Arrested were Junel Entirina, 26; Redden Timog-Timog Salazar, 26; and Saidali Gumba Salisipan, 31.
The suspects were put under police custody.
On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard confiscated P2.1 million worth of cigarettes at Galas Feeder Port in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Hidden inside rice bran bags, the contraband was detected with the help of the Coast Guard K9 Force.
The Coast Guard also turned over the items to the BOC.