Authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than PHP3 million worth of contraband in an anti-smuggling operation in Zamboanga Sibugay, a police official said Wednesday.
Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command – Western Mindanao, identified the suspects as Ian Joven Cabreros, the truck driver, and his two companions, Abdel Khaliq Ong and Francho Gonzales.
Verceles said the three were arrested by police, military, and Bureau of Customs personnel in Barangay Baluran, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The truck driven by Cabreros was found loaded with 87 master cases of assorted cigarettes worth PHP3,045,000.
Verceles said the suspects failed to present documents for their cargo.
He said the suspects were taken to the Tungawan municipal police station for documentation, while the confiscated smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the BOC for proper disposition
Source: Philippines News Agency