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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Authorities in Zamboanga del Sur seized some P2.1-million worth of smuggled cigarettes in two separate operations.
Col. Bonifacio Arañas Jr., Zamboanga del Sur police director, said the first operation was conducted at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, netting two individuals at the ceckpoint in Barangay Militar of Tukuran town, near the provincial boundary with Lanao del Sur.
The two suspects, identified only as Garry and Warkin, both 43 !nd residents of Pagadian City, were onboard a Mitsubishi Mirage G4 vehicle loaded with 446 reams of contraband cigarettes estimated to value some P511,116.00, originating from Barangay Pikalawag of Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Lanao del Norte province. These were reportedly for distribution in Pagadian and nearby areas.
READ: Smuggled cigarettes, 2 vans seized in Negros Occidental town
The two are now detained with the Tukuran police station along with the seized items.
At 1:45 a.m. on Friday, authorities in Labangan town arrested a certain Omar, a 34-year-old construction worker from Barangay New Labangan, Labangan town who possessed 29 master cases of assorted contraband cigarettes estimated to be worth P1,661,700.00.
The contraband were placed by the road when apprehended. /jpv