ZAMBOANGA CITY – Navy patrol intercepted Wednesday a boat loaded with 600 boxes of cigarettes being smuggled into the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga.
Navy personnel searched the boat and discovered the contraband – Bravo Cigarettes – at the cargo bay and covered by a huge vinyl tarpaulin. The boat, painted with the marking “Azeez Express”, was escorted to the Philippine Navy headquarters here where it was documented.
The contraband, officials said, was turned over to the Bureau of Customs.
“The foiling of the transport of smuggled imported cigarettes is a result of an intensified and focused maritime patrol and operation of the Philippine Navy in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies,” the Navy said.
It did not say where the boat or cigarettes originated and if any of the crew members had been detained or not.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco Salazar praised the apprehension of the boat and lauded the Philippine Navy, and warned smugglers to stay out of Zamboanga as she ordered police and military forces to help curb smuggling activities, not only in the city, but in Zamboanga Peninsula where she sits as chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council.
Just last month, three people were arrested and over 500 boxes of smuggled Union Cigarettes were seized by authorities from a warehouse in the village of Arena Blanco here.
Salazar has commended authorities for their continuous efforts against smuggling activities in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s unwavering campaign.
The mayor is active in the government’s anti-smuggling campaign and vowed to put a stop to the nefarious activities by unscrupulous traders who used Zamboanga’s long coastline to smuggle rice, petrol and sugar among other commodities from neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. (The Zamboanga Post)
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