ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police in Zamboanga Peninsula have confiscated PHP103.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes since January, PRO-9 director Brig. Gen. Roel Rodolfo reported Tuesday.
The 51 anti-smuggling operations resulted in 78 arrests and the seizure of 1,665 master cases, 5,266 reams, and 452 packs of illicit cigarettes across the region.
“We’ve taken bold steps to strengthen border security,” said Rodolfo, who assumed command on Jan. 12.
PRO-9 deployed 14 upgraded watercrafts for 24/7 patrols in smuggling hotspots from Sibuco to Isabela City.
“This aligns with President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos’ (Jr.) directive to intensify crackdowns on organized crime,” Rodolfo added, praising personnel and partner agencies for securing vulnerable maritime corridors.
“No one is above the law. We’ll maintain zero tolerance,” he vowed, citing the region’s improved interdiction capabilities. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)
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