Contraband cigarettes worth P11.1 M seized in Zamboanga del Sur

Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. INQUIRER FILES

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Authorities in this city intercepted a wing van truck and confiscated the contraband cigarettes loaded on it.

The operation was held on Thursday, January 30, at a checkpoint in Barangay Tiguma here.

Lt. Col. Jerwin Cagurin, Pagadian City police chief, told the Inquirer that the truck was driven by a certain Ricky, 43, of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, along with his truckman, Alvin, 29, of Tabuan Lasa, Basilan.

“Upon inspection, the truck driver claimed he was transporting cigarettes but when asked to provide the necessary documents, he failed to present any,” Cagurin said.

Boxes of cigarettes were found hidden beneath sacks of rice hull.

Based on the Bureau of Customs report, 194 master cases of cigarettes were confiscated with an estimated market value of P11.1 million.

The two suspects, the seized cigarettes, and the wing van truck were turned over to the BOC in Barangay Dao, while appropriate charges are being prepared for filing against them.