By Liza Jocson
CIGARETTE smuggling was foiled in Sulu.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Smuggled cigarettes worth P9 million bound for Ipil municipality, Zamboanga Sibugay province were intercepted by Naval Command forces in the sea of Panamao, Sulu on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Naval Command personnel were conducting seaborne patrol on board the BRP Hermenegildo Yurong (PG906) when they intercepted the motorized banca MFB Ghazi.
The boat was found to be loaded with 160 master cases of undocumented foreign-brand cigarettes valued at P9 million.
The vessel was manned by five individuals from Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Isabela City, Basilan.
The vessel and contraband were secured by PG906 and escorted to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City, for documentation, investigation, and turnover to concerned authorities.
