3 nabbed in Zamboanga del Sur maritime anti-smuggling operation

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Three men were arrested during a maritime anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Sugod, Tukuran town, early Friday morning, May 22.

The Zamboanga del Sur Maritime Police Station said the seaborne patrol operation was launched at 3:15 a.m. in coordination with the Tukuran Municipal Police Station.

Authorities intercepted a motorized boat locally known as “Tinanggo” or “Subang-Subang” loaded with boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes.

READ: P3 billion in smuggled cigarettes seized in Agusan del Norte

The suspects — two 29-year-old men and a 41-year-old man, all residents of Lanao del Sur — were arrested after they failed to present documents for the cargo.

Police said the confiscated cigarettes bore no Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps or graphic health warnings, in violation of existing laws.

Seized during the operation were 1,750 reams of cigarettes valued at more than P2 million, along with the motorized boat fitted with two SUMO 19HP engines with tampered serial numbers.

The suspects and the recovered items were brought to the Zamboanga del Sur Maritime Police Station for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate charges. /das