Zamboanga city: Authorities seized about PHP6.1 million in smuggled cigarettes during separate maritime security operations in this city and in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Joel Senogat Jr., commander of the police's 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company, stated that PHP4.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were confiscated in Sitio Layag-Layag, Barangay Talon-Talon. Their operatives seized the suspected smuggled cigarettes from an abandoned motorboat during a seaborne patrol operation within the territorial waters of Zamboanga City.

'Confiscated were 32 master cases of menthol cigarettes with an estimated market value of PHP4.8 million,' Senogat said. The contraband was turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper custody and disposition under existing laws and regulations. Local authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine ownership of the abandoned contraband.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Coast Guard Station (CGS) - Zamboanga del Norte seized 1,155 reams of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth PHP1.3 million in Dapitan City on the same day. The CGS-Zamboanga del Norte reported that the smuggled cigarettes were confiscated from a passenger bus during an inspection at the Dapitan port. The passenger bus was about to board a roll-on, roll-off vessel bound for Dumaguete City, coming from this city via Dapitan City, when it was halted following the discovery of the contraband.

The CGS-Zamboanga del Norte has intensified law enforcement operations to curb smuggling and other illegal maritime activities across the province.