Zamboanga city: Authorities seized PHP59.5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate law enforcement operations from February 14 to 21 in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro province of Basilan, officials said Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, the Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) seized PHP55.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, while the police confiscated the remaining PHP3.8 million. On February 21, Rear Admiral Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., commander of WMNC, reported that sailors intercepted a vessel named M/V Sarhana, one nautical mile south of Marungas Island, Sulu, during a maritime patrol. Reyes detailed that the vessel was found transporting 600 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes from Jolo, Sulu, bound for Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, with an estimated value of PHP34.6 million. Later that day, the sailors intensified maritime interdiction and apprehended MB Fatimah Darsa near Little Sta. Cruz, Zamboanga City, carrying 336 master cases and 45 reams of smu ggled cigarettes valued at PHP19.4 million. In a separate operation in Basilan, the police seized smuggled cigarettes on February 21 in Sitio Kayu Poteh, Barangay Maganda, Lamitan City. Lt. Col. Elmer Solon, the police chief of Lamitan City, reported that the operating team discovered several boxes of cigarettes abandoned by unidentified individuals. The operatives seized 67 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of PHP3.8 million, which were transported to Lamitan City Police Station for documentation and will be handed over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Additionally, Reyes mentioned that M/B Aafiya Sheza was intercepted on February 14 in the waters off Barangay Recodo, Zamboanga City. The vessel carried 25 master cases of imported cigarettes valued at PHP1.5 million. The confiscated smuggled cigarettes were turned over to the BOC-Port of Zamboanga for proper inventory and final disposition.